Galway Bay

Galway Bay (Irish: Loch Lurgan 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 Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city is located on the northeast side of the bay. It is about 50 kilometres (30 miles) long and from 10 to 30 kilometres (7 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 Inishmore and Leitir Mealláin in Connemara, it was formerly known as "Bealach Locha Lurgan" in Irish. Gregory's Sound / "Súnda Ghríoghóra" lies between Inishmore 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.

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 a reference to the song 'Galway Bay'.

Galway Bay is also mentioned in a song performed by 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 it's 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."

John Lennon's song "The Luck of the Irish" contains the following lines:

If we could make chains with the morning dew
The world would be like Galway Bay

Galway Bay is also mentioned in Steve Earle's musical tribute to Townes Van Zandt, "Ft. Worth Blues":

"There's a full moon over Galway Bay tonight Silver light over green and blue And every place I travel through, I find Some kinda sign that you've been through "

Earle also mentions Galway and The Long Walk in his song "Galway Girl".