Galway Bay

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Galway Bay (Irish: Loch Lurgain or Cuan na Gaillimhe) is a large bay / sea loch on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the district of Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway is located on the north-east side of the bay. It is about 30 miles long and from 7 miles to 20 miles in breadth. The Oileáin Árann / Aran Islands 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 Aranmore and Leitir Mealláin, County Galway it was formerly known as Bealach Locha Lurgan in Irish. Gregory's Sound / Súnda Ghríoghóra lies between Aranmore 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.

[edit] Galway Bay in popular culture

Galway Bay is mentioned in the lyrics of "Fairytale of New York" in the line The boys of the NYPD choir were singing "Galway Bay". This is most probably a reference to the song 'Galway Bay'.