Galway

Galway Weekend is a weekly series where city dwellers from near and far give us their take on great spots to visit for a quiet pint, tasty food and more, as well as unique places to soak up the beauty of Galway city and its surrounds.

Anthony Collins is a Galway DJ well known for his residencies in Electric, Blue Note and Taylor's Bar, as well as a carpenter and feared Junior B hurling coach. 


Are you an Apple or Android Person? 
I couldn’t decide between the two so I stuck to my Nokia 3210.


Presuming you had a signal, what 3 apps would you use on a desert island? 
Definitely the Galway App, What's the Scór for keeping up to date with Junior B results and Discogs so I can listen to tunes.


What’s your favourite place in the city? 
It would have to be Galway's West End. It has a real village feel to it. There are loads of great bars, cafés and restaurants. Everyone looks out for each other in the Westend.


Any hidden gem you would recommend for visitors to Galway? 
America Village Apothecary. The minute you walk in the door you get a massive welcome from Galway's greatest host Martin Crosbie. It's the ambiance and the atmosphere and it's always an education. I can’t rate the place highly enough.


Where is your favourite place to grab a bite to eat? 
Rúibín at the Docks which is run by Richie and Alice. The food is amazing and so are the staff. There is always a massive welcome and that view from the window seats upstairs just adds to the experience.


What pub would you go to for:

A quiet pint?
Murphy's of High St during the week and Neachtain's is especially great when you get snug.

A match? 
Pj Flaherty's in Lower Salthill is always great craic listening to the locals in the corner debating about who should have won or that was a free or the ref is a w….. and why Mayo haven’t won an All-Ireland in 120 years.

Tunes?
Has to be the Blue Note - best little dance floor in the country. Mal has great staff, a sound doorman and some serious Djs have played there through the years. It just keeps getting better.


Any recommendations for a place to go on a first date? 
I would have to say Sheridan's Wine Bar. When you go up the stairs you can grab a quite little corner or a window seat looking at St Nicholas' church. The wine and cheese boards are fantastic and Séamus always goes out of his way to make you feel welcome.


Favourite walk or hike in Galway? 
Any of the many walks around Ballynahinch. It's absolutely stunning. You can pop into the castle afterward for a pint of Guinness or bite to eat and sit by the open log fires, and when I can’t get reception on my Nokia it makes it all the sweeter.


Most picturesque place in Galway? 
Along the Salthill Prom on a beautiful evening when the sun is setting, looking across at the Burren and the Clare Hills


What are you up to for the weekend? 
Its a friend of ours Serena's 40th and she is celebrating it in The Blue Note. Our favourite DJ Danny Ward aka Moodymanc from Manchester aarkid is playing tunes from early until Mal turns off the power. This Must Be the Place.

Galway Weekend with Anthony Collins

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