Galway Bay
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Galway Bay (Irish: Loch Lurgain or Cuan na Gaillimhe) is a large bay / sea loch on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the district of Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway is located on the north-east side of the bay. It is about 30 miles long and from 7 miles to 20 miles in breadth. The Oileáin Árann / Aran Islands are to the west across the entrance and there are numerous small islands within the bay. The approaches to the bay between the Aran Islands and the mainland are as follows; the North Sound / An Súnda ó Thuaidh lies between Aranmore and Leitir Mealláin, County Galway it was formerly known as Bealach Locha Lurgan in Irish. Gregory's Sound / Súnda Ghríoghóra lies between Aranmore and Inishmaan it was formerly known as Bealach na h-Áite. Foul Sound / An Súnda Salach lies between Inishmaan and Inisheer it was formerly known as Bealach na Fearbhaighe. South Sound / An Súnda ó Theas formerly known as Bealach na Finnise lies between Inisheer and County Clare.
Galway Bay is famous for its unique traditional sailing craft, the Galway Hooker.
[edit] Galway Bay in popular culture
Galway Bay is mentioned in the lyrics of "Fairytale of New York" in the line The boys of the NYPD choir were singing "Galway Bay". This is most probably a reference to the song 'Galway Bay'.
Galway Bay is also mentioned in a song performed by Sir Sean Connery in Disney's "Darby O'Gill and the Little People":
"Have you ever seen the seagulls a-flying on to Heaven or the crimson sails on Galway Bay the fishermen unfurl?
Oh, the Earth is filled with beauty and its gathered all together in the form and face and dainty grace of a pretty Irish girl.
Oh, she is my dear, my darling one. Her eyes so sparkling full of fun. No other, no other can match the likes of her.
Oh, she is my dear, my darling one. My smiling and beguiling one. I love the ground she walks upon, my darling Irish girl."
There is also a humorous song performed by the Clancy Brothers entitled "Galway Bay" With the following lyrics.
Maybe someday, i'll go back again to Ireland
If my dear old wife would pass away
She nearly has my heart broke with all her naggin
she's got a mouth as big as galway bay
See her drinkin 16 pints of Pabst Blue Ribbon
And then she can walk home without a sway
If the sea were beer instead of salty water
She would live and die in galway bay
See her drinkin 16 pints of Padgo Murphy's
When the barman says "I think its time to go"
She doesn't try to speak to him in gaelic
But a language that the clergy do not know
On her back she has tattooed a map of Ireland
And when she takes her bath on Saturday
She rubs the sunlight soap around by Claddaugh
Just to watch the suds roll down by Galway Bay
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