Salthill
| Salthill Bóthar na Trá | |
|---|---|
| Area of Galway city | |
 | |
  Salthill | |
| Coordinates: 53°15′40″N 9°04′16″W / 53.261°N 9.071°WCoordinates: 53°15′40″N 9°04′16″W / 53.261°N 9.071°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | County Galway |
| City Council | Galway |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| • Urban | 3,376 |
| Irish Grid Reference | M275248 |
Salthill (Irish: Bóthar na Trá) is a seaside area in the City of Galway in the west of Ireland. Lying within the townland of Lenaboy (an Léana Buí), it attracts many tourists all year round. There is a 2 km long promenade, locally known as the Prom, overlooking Galway Bay with bars, restaurants and hotels.
Events
Salthill was, until 2007, home to one of the biggest non-fee paying air shows in Galway, the Salthill Air Show, which took place in June over Galway Bay. The show annually attracted over 100,000 people and generated over €1m in revenue.[2]
Every Christmas Day for many years it has been a tradition to jump into the sea from Blackrock Diving Tower. This record-breaking event is now a fundraiser for local charity in Galway.
Tourism
Salthill has been a tourist destination since the early twentieth century. During the 1950s it was a hot spot for dance and show-bands, the most noticeable location being the Seapoint dance hall now a leisure centre.
The 1970s saw the introduction of a number of casinos and more leisure centres. Leisureland, having a fair ground, swimming pool and concert hall, became a huge attraction and brought in top bands such as U2, AC/DC and ZZ Top during the 1980s, as well as artists such as Morrissey in recent years. There was an annual airshow (up until 2007) where up to 100,000 people viewed the air display along with a public water safety and army demonstration.
In recent years, Salthill was a centre point for the 2009 Volvo Ocean Race, as well as the more recent Round-Ireland Powerboat race in 2010. During these events, stands were set up along the Prom selling a variety of goods. Throughout all the developments, Salthill's main attraction every year has been its promenade and numerous sandy beaches. Sathill having a clear blue sea along with a diving area located at Blackrock beach is popular with locals and tourists alike. Blackrock, having steps down to the sea, is used all year round regardless of the water temperature.
- Local attractions
- Salthill Beach, Ladies Beach, Palmer's Rock & Beach, Blackrock
- Blackrock Diving & Viewing Tower
- Leisureland – Popular local leisure center featuring a 25m swimming pool, a new gym, a Pitch and Putt course and, in the summer months, a fun fair park.
- Palmer's Rock scuba diving, boat and jet ski slip way.
- Salthill, Claude's and Caesar Palace Casinos
- Atlantic Aquarium (Galway Atlantaquaria) – National Aquarium of Ireland featuring many exhibits including Valentine, the world's only White Skate in captivity, born on 14 February 2004.
- Salthill Park and Bandstand
Sport
- Salthill-Knocknacarra GAA is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club. The team has won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship, beating St. Gall's in the 2006 final.[3]
- Salthill Devon F.C. are the local football team. They played in the League of Ireland's second tier, called First Division, from 2010 to 2013, before merging with Mervue United and GUST, the supporters trust of the defunct Galway United, to form Galway F.C..[4]
- Pearse Stadium, one of Galway GAA's two primary stadiums (the other being St Jarlath's Park), is found on Dr Mannix Road in Salthill.
- The Galway Lawn Tennis Club, winner of Irish Tennis Club of the Year in 2002, is located on Threadneedle Road.
Transport
- Salthill railway station opened on 1 October 1879 and closed for passenger traffic in January 1918.[5]
- Currently there is one city bus service: Bus Éireann's route 401, which runs to Eyre Square only at a 20-minute frequency from 7am to 7pm Monday-Saturday and 40-minute at other times. That same operator also runs the regional buses 416 and 424 from the Bus Station into Connemara which pass via Salthill.
- Until December 2012, City Direct Galway ran route 413 from Eyre Square via Salthill to Knocknacarra, which carried the number 36 before City Direct's service renumbering and remapping in July 2012.
- Bus Éireann changed its Galway city bus network in March 2012. Before that, Salthill was serviced by two bus routes - 1, which ran from Eyre Square into Salthill and returned into Eyre Square, there becoming route 8 which went into Mervue; and 1D, which ran from Merchants Rd via Devon Park and Salthill Road back into Merchants Rd. The two buses ran at roughly every 15 minutes Monday-Friday.
Popular culture
- The Long Walk and the Salthill promenade are both referenced in the Steve Earle penned tune "Galway Girl".
Education
Scoil Ide is a school for girls and boys up to the age of seven. The Jesus and Mary sisters were invited to open a National school in Salthill as the population was rapidly increasing in that area. Scoil Ide was opened on 1 May 1952 with forty-three pupils and two teachers. Scoil Ide is known for its top academic standards and its encouragement towards Art, Music and Drama. Most of Scoil Ide's pupils go on to the secondary school Salerno which is based nearby. Salerno had high academic results once in 1973 and is the reason some girls attend Scoil Ide.
See also
References
- ↑ "Census 2006 – Volume 1 – Population Classified by Area" (PDF). Central Statistics Office Census 2006 Reports. Central Statistics Office Ireland. April 2007. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ↑ RTÉ News, 2007-07-04, Huge crowds at Galway air show.
- ↑ http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2006/0317/202581-salthill/
- ↑ Football's comin' home — compromise reached as Galway FC applies to league
- ↑ "Salthill station" (PDF). Railscot – Irish Railways. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
External links
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