Galway Bay

Map showing Galway Bay's location.

Galway Bay (Irish: Loch Lurgan or Cuan na Gaillimhe) is a large bay (or sea lough) 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 Aran Islands (Oileáin Árann) 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

• 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 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?

• 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".

Gallery

Map of Galway Bay and environs.

Galway Bay from Salthill.

Galway Bay near County Clare.

Galway Bay in December.

See also

• List of loughs in Ireland

Coordinates: 53°12′N 9°14′W / 53.2°N 9.233°W / 53.2; -9.233