About Galway

One of the fastest-growing cities in Europe, Galway has grown in recent years to become Ireland's most fashionable city and it’s currently ranked as the fourth largest city in the country. Famed as the “City of the Tribes,” it has transformed itself from a small provincial capital into the cultural capital of Ireland. The youthful vibrancy and cosmopolitan nature of the city coupled with the raw beauty of Connemara to the west has served as an inspiration to countless musicians and artists and allowed it take its rightful place at the heart of Irish culture. It is best known for its chilled out, relaxed atmosphere and acceptance of the eccentric and extraordinary. You never know what or who you may see while walking down the street. That’s good news for the Rat Race where the eccentric and the extraordinary rub shoulders at every turn!

   The city grew from the settlement of the Claddagh to the south west of the River Corrib. Home to the famed Claddagh Ring, the area began as a fishing village and its importance grew over the years until the Anglo-Normans captured the area from the local O'Flaherty clan in 1232. Galway's walls were constructed soon after and by the mid-13th century it was a walled town of approximately 35 acres. In 1396, King Richard II gave the city a royal charter, giving control to a collection of tribes of mainly Anglo-Norman families, hence the name “City of the Tribes.”

   Over the following centuries, Galway prospered through trade with Europe and even the Caribbean. During the 17th century however, the English civil war had disastrous effects on the city, with Cromwell's troops causing widespread destruction on their arrival in the area. Galway declined over subsequent years, until the late 20th century boom that transformed the Irish economy. Throughout history the city has always harboured a rich musical and literary past and this has firmly established it as the cultural and cosmopolitan capital of the west.

Galway certainly is lively and steeped as it is in culture, rich in folklore and famous for its cobble-stoned streets, quaint shops and charming restaurants, the city comes alive to the beat of thousands of students, musicians and revelers cramming its famous bars. This is a city serious about fun and it is well-renowned across the land as a party-town. Eyre Square in Galway city centre is the first sight many visitors get of Galway city and will be a familiar spot with Rat Racers this September, as it will be the event village for the inaugural event. The square is often a hive of activity, particularly in the summer when outdoor concerts and events take place. The Fountain in

Eyre Square is a popular meeting place and flying beside it are the 12 flags of the tribes. Its copper-coloured representation of the sails of a “Galway Hooker” draw attention to this ubiquitous local fishing boat, which has gained fame due to its widespread use throughout history on the High Seas. The Hooker has long been used as a symbol for county Galway and indeed, the lure of the Sea is never far away here, being as we are right on the Western edge of Europe. If you think that’s a cryptic way of saying you will be getting wet in the event – you’d be right!

Galway city is an ideal location to run the Rat Race and that’s why we’re here! With its mix of ancient and modern buildings, access to the Atlantic Ocean and Corrib River and love of the quirky and surreal, all coupled with the legendary craic, what else would you want from an urban adventure challenge?

Join us there and come face to face with the Tribes!