Galway, Ireland

The four of us had 24 hours in Galway. It became a bit of a challenge, how much food and fun we could fit in before catching the last flight home. Waking up for work on the Monday afterwards was painful, but completely worth it.

We landed early on Saturday, and one of my friends had done an excellent job organising a hire car so we could get moving straight away. And we did, directly in search of food. Specifically, seafood.

I knew nothing of this side of Irish food. I associated the country with rich stews and heart portions. But the seafood was a delightful, delicious surprise. It really was some of the best I have had.

The day quickly turned into a cycle of oysters, crab claws, prawns… and then more oysters, more crab claws, more prawns. All served in the most unreal butter, herb and lemon sauces. Alongside a lot of laughing. That was basically the structure of the trip.

At some point, we managed to pull ourselves away and drove out to the Cliffs of Moher. The views are as dramatic as everyone says: wild, windy and properly impressive. But, honestly, my main memory is one of my friends being just slightly too short to see over parts of the viewing wall. We spent most of our time there taking silly photos, messing around and laughing in the way that women do when we are in our element.

Back in Galway that evening, we did what you’re supposed to do and went from pub to pub, listening to live music and soaking up the atmosphere. It’s exactly what you hope for: busy, friendly and full of energy.

The next day followed a familiar pattern. More seafood, more laughter, and a final pub stop on the way to the airport, just to make sure we’d made the most of it.

It was a quick trip, but it felt like a proper glimpse into the place. Good food, great company and the most welcoming atmosphere. I’ll definitely be back, ideally for longer next time.