Best of west will put your stamina to test

From food to festivals, culture to shopping, Galway has it all and that’s before you even step outside the city.

Why has Galway got such X-factor? I give this a lot of thought on the train journey, but once I step out of Ceannt Station and onto Eyre Square, things start to crystallise. It’s because Galway is as much a feeling as a physical place. It’s both a city and a state-of-mind.

Just say the word — Galway — and feel your fingers tingle. No other Irish city evokes quite the same excitement, goodwill and nostalgia at the mere mention of its name. It’s at once a college town and a cultural crossroads, a foodie hub and bo-ho hangout where you’re guaranteed to meet a busker with balloons tied to his head.