Sorry for the delay in posting: entirely the fault of the North Atlantic weather, or so we'll say.
With Temple Bar’s annual Tradfest looming over us and a slew of tourists already pouring into the city, a few friends and I decided to get away for the weekend.After a quick look at bus schedules and some quick decision making, we decided to go to Galway on Ireland’s west coast.
When we stepped off the bus four hours later, we were greeted with gray skies and slick sidewalks. We went and checked into our hostel before embarking on a brief excursion around the city. Galway is surprisingly small, but it felt homey.
After a bite at a little hole in the wall called The Home Plate (where I discovered the vegetarian's dream sandwich), we decided to search for some authentic Irish music to get us through the night. Although I knew Galway was part of the Gaeltacht circuit (a chain of cities in West Ireland deeply rooted in traditional Gaelic culture), I wasn't expecting it to be such a haven for trad music. We ended up at Tig Cóilí, the locals favorite place to get together for a pint and some good music.
It was hard not to dance to the music. It was energetic and fast-paced, and almost seemed to grab you by the arm and swing you into its rhythm. As I sat there listening to the band play, I couldn't help but smile, knowing I was experiencing true trad, rather than a glammed up tourist version. This scene seemed more realistic, and it was almost as if we were all gathered together celebrating life and nothing else.

We were still in the weather's disfavor the next day. With the clouds rolling in and showers virtually guaranteed, we opted not to ferry to the Aryan Islands. Instead, we took a closer look at the city and the surrouding areas. My roommate and I agreed the first stop would have to be Claddagh.
Although the fishing village itself is no more, the history lives on through the world renowned Claddagh ring. Sadly the story of its origin still remains a mystery to us and historians. We do know what the three parts of the ring signify, however; the heart stands for love, the crown for loyalty, and the hands for friendship.
The rest of the day was spent appreciating the city's architecture, pondering the purpose of Spanish Quay, exploring the local musuem, and going to the local market.
One of the more popular venues in Galway and around Ireland. Sadly, no pepperjack to be found.