Galway, the fifth largest city in Ireland, proved a fantastic final stop to Champlain Dublin’s tour of Western Ireland. A college town, similar in size and feel to Burlington, VT, Galway’s vibrant pedestrian walkway, shopping, numerous eateries (including a Tex-Mex restaurant), and active night life allowed Champlain students to feel right at home. One student enthusiastically remarked, “Champlain should have a study abroad campus here!” A notable architectural fixture in Galway is the Spanish Arch. The Spanish Arch, located on the banks of river Corrib, was built in 1584. Though there is no specific historical reference to a link between the building of the Spanish Arch and Spain, it is rumored that Galway was a main stopping point for Spanish ships avoiding the British fleet. Apparently, there was some intermarrying between people of Galway and Spain. Some of the people endemic to the Galway region of Ireland tend to have darker hair and can tan more easily than many of the Irish. Genealogical evidence has backed up this Spanish-Irish link.
A highlight of our visit to Galway, were mouth-watering donuts made by a local street vendor. Sorry Vermont, these donuts give the best freshly-made cider donuts a run for their money. Cooked on the spot, and sprinkled with a choice of sugar, cinnamon, or coco, these donuts literally melt in your mouth. A 70 cents a pop, these donuts can’t be missed. At first bite, I declared, “Wow, these donuts are good!” The vendor, who appeared to be some sort of Irish-Willy Wonka, stated, “Just good? You’re fired!” Apparently, that was the understatement of the day.
Noah Goldblatt – Study Abroad Coordinator Champlain College, Vermont, US.