u/Ancurinho

Hello Irish Friends,

We can’t wait to visit your city soon, where we plan to spend a short June break. We’re also planning to visit the Cliffs of Moher and Connemara National Park. And of course—more importantly for this post—we want to properly plan our day and evenings in Galway.

We are flying into Shannon, so we’re considering renting a car for a few days, if we can find a rental company that doesn’t require prepayment or a deposit hold on a card.

1. We’ve booked a stay near Mary Mullens Bar, but the hotel doesn’t have parking. Is there any free parking in the city, or only pay-per-hour APCOA car parks? How much does it cost per hour or per day to leave a car?
2. We arrive in your city on June 1st, and I’ve read that it’s a public holiday in your country. Is there anything in particular we should keep in mind on that day? More importantly, are there any events worth attending—maybe concerts? We’ve heard many warm and colorful things about Galway and would definitely like to experience the city’s evening/night vibe (if possible between Monday and Thursday).
3. Does it make sense to plan the trip without renting a car and rely on buses to and from Galway? I found that a trip to the Cliffs of Moher is possible with buses 350/351, but Connemara National Park and Kylemore Abbey seem to be more difficult to reach?