Galway Bay

Map showing Galway Bay's location

Map of Galway Bay and environs

Galway Bay (Irish: Loch Lurgain or Cuan na Gaillimhe) is a large bay / sea loch on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the district of Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway is located on the north-east side of the bay. It is about 50 kilometres (30 miles) long and from 10 to 30 kilometres (7 to 20 miles) in breadth. The Oileáin Árann / Aran Islands are to the west across the entrance and there are numerous small islands within the bay. The approaches to the bay between the Aran Islands and the mainland are as follows; the North Sound / An Súnda ó Thuaidh lies between Aranmore and Leitir Mealláin, County Galway it was formerly known as Bealach Locha Lurgan in Irish. Gregory's Sound / Súnda Ghríoghóra lies between Aranmore and Inishmaan it was formerly known as Bealach na h-Áite. Foul Sound / An Súnda Salach lies between Inishmaan and Inisheer it was formerly known as Bealach na Fearbhaighe. South Sound / An Súnda ó Theas formerly known as Bealach na Finnise lies between Inisheer and County Clare.

Galway Bay is famous for its unique traditional sailing craft, the Galway Hooker.

Galway Bay from Salthill

Galway Bay near County Clare

Galway Bay in popular culture

Galway Bay is mentioned in the lyrics of "Fairytale of New York" in the line The boys of the NYPD choir were singing "Galway Bay". This is most probably a reference to the song 'Galway Bay'.

Galway Bay is also mentioned in a song performed by Sir Sean Connery in Disney's "Darby O'Gill and the Little People":

"Have you ever seen the seagulls a-flying on to Heaven or the crimson sails on Galway Bay the fishermen unfurl?

Oh, the Earth is filled with beauty and its gathered all together in the form and face and dainty grace of a pretty Irish girl.

Oh, she is my dear, my darling one. Her eyes so sparkling full of fun. No other, no other can match the likes of her.

Oh, she is my dear, my darling one. My smiling and beguiling one. I love the ground she walks upon, my darling Irish girl."

John Lennon's song The Luck Of The Irish contains the following lines:

If we could make chains with the morning dew
The world would be like Galway Bay

Galway Bay is also mentioned in Steve Earle's musical tribute to Townes Van Zandt, "Ft. Worth Blues":

"There's a full moon over Galway Bay tonight Silver light over green and blue And every place I travel through, I find Some kinda sign that you've been through "

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