I firmly believe there is no better time to be a student living in Galway! Galway is renowned for its famous nightlife and assemblage of pubs. I understand that it can be quite daunting to find fun alternatives instead of a night on the pints.
I have found plenty of things for you and your friends to do that won’t leave you feeling hungover the next morning. Fear no longer here are my favourite non-alcoholic activities that you can enjoy in Galway.
Maybe alcohol doesn’t appeal to you, but what if I suggested that you venture on a ‘Café Crawl’. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the new and improved pub crawl. I think it’s a great way to explore all that Galway has to offer and it gives you an opportunity to catch up with a friend. It’s fair to say that we are beyond fortunate with all the fabulous cafés in Galway. I believe that we all deserve a treat and what better way than soaking up the beautiful atmosphere in one of Galway’s fabulous cafés. I personally recommend Fairhill, The Little Lane and Plámás.
Why not learn a new skill! The University of Galway has over 115 different societies to choose from including; business, archaeology, chess and tradition Irish music. If you ask me, I’d say there’s definitely something for everyone. I strongly advise you try out a dance class with Dansoc (the dance society). If that doesn’t sound like something you would be into perhaps the Granny Soc could be. You will learn how to sew, knit and crochet whilst enjoying tea and biscuits with like-minded individuals. I think it would be very cool learning how to DJ with the DJ Soc.
For an experience you won’t forget, head to the cinema! Galway has lots of cinemas to choose from including; Pálás, Omniplex, IMC and the EYE cinema. Cinemas have student deals on certain days which is ideally if you’re a student on a budget. I would recommend that you to try the IMC cinema for their student deal on Tuesdays where you can get your ticket along with a medium meal for only €12. It gets better, the cinema is only a short walk from campus. Next time that you’re sitting around at home contemplating how you should spend the rest of your evening head to the cinema. It will be an experience I can guarantee you will look back on fondly.
Have you ever tried cold water therapy? I’m sure this could be putting you out of your comfort zone massively but if you are interested look no further than Fad Saoil in Salthill. You can get 45 minutes worth and it costs €15. If you’re unsure I might be able to convince you because the cold water and sauna has many benefits such as increased mood and energy levels as well as the production of white blood cells. There is no place I would rather be than by the Salthill seaside to escape the realities of life. Why not grab a friend and julep out of your comfort zones together.
The cold water and sauna mix may sound like your worst nightmare, if so, I may have a solution! A trip to Salthill will leave you feeling instantly better. Of course, the nice weather is not always guaranteed here in Galway but when it is dry, we are truly blessed with all the stunning walks that we can go on. The best part is that they’re completely free! Barna woods, Rinville and Coole Park are some of my favourite walks. Connemara is known for its natural beauty along with its lovely hikes and walks. You won’t regret walking along Dogs Bay or challenging yourself to climb Diamond Hill.
I hope that I showed you that there is a variety of different things for students to do in Galway. In my opinion we couldn’t be luckier with all the fun activities and places to go that doesn’t involve drinking alcohol!