Vibrant and bustling Galway is known for its festivals, quirky pubs, and street performers, but only those in-the-know can spot the tell-tale signs of its medieval past. On this self-guided audio tour, I’ll point out remnants of this historical city and reveal some of its darker tales of death, murders, and executions. Starting in front of the Browne Doorway in Eyre Square, you’ll walk through Galway’s main shopping district to your first stop, the King’s Head Bistro and Pub. There, I’ll share the gory details of King Charles I of England’s execution and what the event has to do with the pub’s name. You’ll then wind your way into the heart of the Latin Quarter to the Spanish Arch, to find out how millions of Irish were affected by An Gorta Mór (or, the Great Hunger) of 1846.
On this dark tour you’ll also have the opportunity to see the Lynch’s Memorial Window where a father hung his own son in the 1400s, and learn about the murder of the Joyce family in Maamtrasna in 1882.