What's a night out in Galway look like, from start to finish? What do you love and what would you change?
Nights out in Galway have changed a lot even since I first started heading out, which wasn’t THAT long ago. Nowadays, it’s a bit of a chiller vibe since there aren’t any nightclubs left anymore. There used to be quite a few when I was 17/18. I think too though, I’m just on a more chill vibe as a person so that might have something to do with it….
If it’s a really big night though, I’m definitely going to be dropping into Evan Fahy for a haircut, that’s defo where things kick off. Following on from that, probably to Freeney’s pub which is easily my fave place in Galway. There’s a fire in there most nights and also a variety of sport on TV…. Following on from that, the spot is more than likely Áras Na nGael which 9 times out of 10 has something really raw, DIY and probably sounding like something you haven’t heard before going on. If it’s really popping off then, usually down to the Róisín Dubh, Bierhaus or The Blue Note and then eventually towards Shantalla for an afters into the early hours. Late venues in Galway shut at 2am, so a night out start to finish is pretty stunted by international standards! I just love Galway so much and anything positive that happens there, despite all the shortcomings and setbacks, really makes me proud of our city.
If I were to change ONE thing it’d be that the place really BADLY needs a late-night dance-specific venue. Live music has thrived in Galway amongst younger people since COVID and the emphasis on dance music was just wiped out when all the clubs closed. That’s not to say at all that people still haven’t made the most of it, but it would definitely make things a lot fresher, more enjoyable and more varied if we had a legitimate space to dance in late into the night.