Salthill
Encyclopedia
Salthill is a seaside
area of Galway
city, Ireland
. It lies within the townland
of Lenaboy (an Léana Buí) and 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.
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.
The 1970's 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 1980's, 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
and its ignorance 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.
The better school however, is Colaiste Iognaid, or more commonly referred to as the Jes. The Jes boasts a fine tradition in both school and extra curricular activities, winning the Connacht Senior Cup 2011 against rivals Sligo Grammar.
In hockey, the Senior girls won the 2011 Heskin Cup, defeating Sligo Grammar, Dominican Convent and, of course, Salerno with ease.
In debating, 2nd years Eoghan Finn and Daragh McCarthy travelled to Cambridge for the International Competition for Young Debaters and finishing an incrediblle joint 9th, defeating competition from Canada, South Korea, Greece and Britain.
They also have a proud tradition for Soccer, Gaelic, Basketball and Rowing.
Seaside
-Places:* Seaside, California* Seaside, Florida* Seaside, Oregon* A mostly undeveloped coastal area in Perth and Kinross called Seaside* Seaside, Queens, a section of Rockaway Beach in New York City* Seaside Heights, New Jersey...
area of Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
city, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It lies within the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Lenaboy (an Léana Buí) and attracts many tourists all year round. There is a 2 km long promenade, locally known as the Prom, overlooking Galway Bay
Galway Bay
Galway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city is located on the northeast side of the bay. It is about long and from to in breadth...
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 hotel. The show annually attracted over 100,000 people and generated over €1m in revenue.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 1950's it was a hot spot for dance and show-bands, the most noticeable location being the Seapoint dance hall now a leisure centre.The 1970's 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 1980's, 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, swimming pool, pitch and putt & fun fair park.
- Palmer's Rock scuba diving, boat and jet ski slip way.
- Salthill, Claude's and Caesar Palace Casinos
- Atlantic Aquarium
- Salthill Park and Bandstand
- Seapoint Leisure Center
- Salthill Hotel Galway
- Salthill park
Sport
- Salthill-Knocknacarra GAASalthill-KnocknacarraSalthill-Knocknacarra is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Salthill and Knocknacarra areas in Galway City, Ireland. The club is a member of the Galway GAA...
is the local Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic AssociationThe Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club. - Salthill Devon have played in the League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
First Division since 2010. - Pearse Stadium GAA grounds
- Galway Lawn Tennis club
Transport
- Salthill railway station opened on 1 October 1879 and closed for passenger traffic in January 1918.
- Currently there are three bus services from Eyre Square: two operated by Bus ÉireannBus ÉireannBus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...
, coded as 1 (continues to Mervue as 8) and 1D (other terminus is located on Merchants Rd) and the last one by Galway City Direct as 37.
Popular culture
- The Long WalkSpanish ArchThe Spanish Arch in Galway city, Ireland was originally an extension of the city wall from Martin's Tower to the bank of the Corrib, as a measure to protect the city's quays, which were located in the area once known as the Fish Market...
and the Salthill promenade are both referenced in the Steve EarleSteve EarleStephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
penned tune Galway GirlGalway Girl"Galway Girl" or "The Galway Girl" is a song written by Steve Earle and recorded with Irish musician Sharon Shannon, which was featured on Earle's 2000 album Transcendental Blues....
.
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 May 1, 1952 with forty-three pupils and two teachers. Scoil Ide is known for its average academic standardsAcademic standards
Academic standards are the benchmarks of quality and excellence in education such as the rigour of curricula and the difficulty of examinations...
and its ignorance towards Art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, Music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and Drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
. 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.
The better school however, is Colaiste Iognaid, or more commonly referred to as the Jes. The Jes boasts a fine tradition in both school and extra curricular activities, winning the Connacht Senior Cup 2011 against rivals Sligo Grammar.
In hockey, the Senior girls won the 2011 Heskin Cup, defeating Sligo Grammar, Dominican Convent and, of course, Salerno with ease.
In debating, 2nd years Eoghan Finn and Daragh McCarthy travelled to Cambridge for the International Competition for Young Debaters and finishing an incrediblle joint 9th, defeating competition from Canada, South Korea, Greece and Britain.
They also have a proud tradition for Soccer, Gaelic, Basketball and Rowing.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland