Galway Girls
- bevclyde45
- Nov 10
- 5 min read
09-11-2025
This week turned out to be special. My granddaughter Rachel and I went to Galway for a weekend getaway. Since I will be returning home in about three weeks, we realized we only had a short time together before an ocean would separate us.
Friday was a bit chaotic. It’s nearly impossible to get from Waterford to Galway without going through Dublin. In fact, getting anywhere in Ireland typically involves a stop in Dublin. I finally decided the easiest route would be for me to meet Rachel in Dublin. She couldn’t travel until after her tutorial at 3:00 PM, so we figured she could get to the train station by 5:30, and then our weekend could officially begin as we caught the train to Galway.
Around 4:30, Rachel called to say she was having difficulty getting a taxi to the train station. We decided she should keep trying until 5:00 and then just take the bus. I would then change our tickets to the 6:30 train. Before long, she managed to find a taxi with a driver who relished a challenge. He was determined for her to catch her 5:30 train. Although Rachel wasn’t sure they were always on legal roads, she arrived with 10 minutes to spare. Soon we were on the train, on our way to Galway.
I had eaten a bite while waiting at the train station, but Rachel hadn’t had time to eat. After checking in at the hotel, we went to the restaurant so she could get a late dinner. Our hotel, The Hyde, was located within walking distance of the train station and a major park, Kennedy Park (also known as Eyre Square). This was a great location for our weekend. We hadn’t realized it, but Galway’s Christmas Market was already in operation in Kennedy Park.
On Saturday morning, we decided to take a walking tour of Galway to get our bearings and learn a bit about the town. A couple of months ago, Shannon, my daughter, and I had taken a walking tour, but Rachel had not been with us. After some difficulty finding a suitable tour, we finally discovered an entertaining and informative experience. Although this tour wasn’t exactly like the one I had taken earlier, it offered familiar tales along with some new stories.
After the tour, we spent some time shopping, particularly in the Aran wool stores, though we
didn’t end up buying anything. After lunch, Rachel decided she wanted to ride the Ferris wheel. Despite her general dislike for thrill rides, I assured her that a Ferris wheel was high but not fast, and that I would not rock the seats. Unfortunately, the view of Galway Bay was obscured by the rain that had started to fall. Nevertheless, Rachel did wonderfully on the ride.
With the cold, rain, and our late night catching up to us, we returned to the hotel to relax. We found a movie to watch on television and kicked back for a couple of hours—it was just what we needed.
That night, we headed to the Christmas Market, wandering from booth to booth. We enjoyed hot chocolate and ate Mediterranean chicken wraps for dinner. I was looking for a thank-you gift for my Bible study group, something with a religious touch. I came across Christmas tree decorations made from olive wood, crafted in Bethlehem in the West Bank. The decorations featured nativity scenes, angels, and stars. I selected five different designs so my friends could choose their favorite. I was pleased to find these special gifts.
Afterward, we strolled through the streets of Galway, admiring the beautiful Christmas lights strung across the streets. However, as it got colder and the rain intensified, we decided it was time to head inside and warm up.
On Sunday morning, we had breakfast, checked out of the hotel, and caught the 11:00 train to Dublin. At least this time, we could see the landscape as we rolled along; on Friday, it had been dark, and we couldn’t see a thing.
Arriving in Dublin a bit after 1:00, I said goodbye to Rachel as she caught the bus back to campus. After lunch, I took the train back to Waterford, arriving at my apartment around 6:00, feeling utterly exhausted. I might be getting too old for these whirlwind weekends. I called my children and then headed to bed, knowing I had to wake up early the next morning to catch the bus to Dublin for my class at Trinity College. I don’t think you’re supposed to go to Dublin as often as I do!
The earlier part of my week had been much quieter than the weekend, but there were a couple of interesting activities. On Monday, November 3, 2025, I attended my class at Trinity College. We didn’t have a lesson; instead, the professors explained their expectations for two projects that students needed to complete before the end of the term.
First, the students were required to write a review of a podcast, focusing on just one episode rather than the entire series. I probably could have tackled this, but I'm glad I don’t have to. The second project involved writing a script for a podcast, which needed to include not only the dialogue but also background music and references to primary resources (like newscasts) and secondary resources (such as discussions about the subject). While I could manage writing what I wanted to say, incorporating the additional materials would be quite challenging for me.
When the professors asked if there were any questions, I almost raised my hand to ask, “Is it too late to drop this course?” I’m not certain I could handle today’s college demands!
On Thursday, while walking downtown, I passed Reginald’s Tower. I have walked by this
tower many times and even taken pictures of it, but I never considered going inside, assuming there wouldn’t be much to see. I was wrong. Realizing how little time I have left here, I decided to explore Reginald’s Tower. Inside, I found a charming little museum featuring a delightful film about the tower's history. I really enjoy the short films in museums; they help to pull everything together for me.
One interesting fact about this tower is that the circular steps I climbed to get to the top are over 800 years old. This location has been home to a tower for over 1,000 years, but the earliest structure was made of wood, and nothing remains of it today. Reginald’s Tower is the oldest continuously used public building in Ireland. I love how many adjectives it takes to make this tower so unique!
Waterford Weather Rainy and Cold
High 55 F (13 C), Low 47 F (8 C)
Sunrise: 7:40 Sunset: 4:43 (16:43 IST)
Ho
Hours of Daylight: 9 hours and 3 minutes
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