Transcript Diapositiva 1 - Europeanclubeuropeo

INTRODUCTION
NOTES
HISTORY
EVENTS
LANGUAGE & CULTURE
SPORT
CLIMATE
INTRODUCTION
NOTES
HISTORY
EVENTS
LANGUAGE & CULTURE
SPORT
CLIMATE
Galwy was constructed in 1124, by the King of Connacht Tairrdelbach mac
Ruaidri Ua Conchobair. A small settlement eventually grew up around this fort.
During the Norman invasion of Connacht in the 1230s, Galway fort was captured
by Richard Mor de Burgh, who had led this invasion. As the de Burghs eventually
became gaelicised the merchants of the town pushed for greater control over the
walled city. This led to them gaining complete control over the city and the
granting of mayoral status by the English crown in December 1484. Galway
endured difficult relations with its Irish neighbours. A notice over the west gate of
the city, completed in 1562 by Mayor Thomas Oge Martyn fitz William, stated
"From the Ferocious O'Flahertys may God protect us". A bye-law forbade the
native Irish unrestricted access into Galway, saying "neither O' nor Mac shall
strutte nor swagger through the streets of Galway" without permission. During the
Middle Ages, Galway was ruled by an oligarchy of fourteen merchant families.
These were the 'tribes' of Galway. The city throve on international trade.
In the Middle Ages, it was the principal Irish port for trade with France and Spain.
One famous sailor, Christopher Columbus is known to have visited Galway,
possibly stopping off on a voyage to Iceland or the Faroe Isles. During the 16th
and 17th centuries Galway remained loyal to the English crown for the most part,
even during the Gaelic resurgence, perhaps for reasons of survival, yet by 1642
the city allied itself with the Catholic Confederation of Kilkenny during the Wars of
the Three Kingdoms. During the resulting Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
Cromwellian forces captured the city after a nine month siege. At the end of the
17th century the city supported the Jacobites in the Williamite war in Ireland and
was captured by the Williamites after a very short siege not long after the Battle of
Aughrim in 1691. The great families of Galway were ruined, the city declined, and
it did not fully recover until the great economic boom of the late twentieth century.
INTRODUCTION
TO GALWAY
location
Galway (official Irish name: Gaillimh) is the only city in the province of Connacht in
Ireland and capital of County Galway. The city is located on the west coast of Ireland.
In Irish, Galway is also called Cathair na Gaillimhe, which is a translation of "City of
Galway".
The city takes its name from the Gaillimh river (River Corrib) that formed the western
boundary of the earliest settlement, which was called Dún Bhun na Gaillimhe, or the fort
at the bottom of the Gaillimh. The word Gaillimh means "stony" as in "stony river".
(Alternative, more mythical, derivations are given in History of Galway). The city also
bears the nickname The City of the Tribes, because fourteen "Tribes" (merchant
families) led the city in its Hiberno-Norman period. The term Tribes was originally a
derogatory phrase from Cromwellian times. The merchants would have seen themselves
as English nobility, and hence were loyal to the King. Their uncertain reaction to the
siege of Galway by Cromwellian forces earned them this label, which they subsequently
adopted in defiance.
The population of the city was 71,983 at the most recent census in April 2006, making it
the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, after Dublin and Cork, although
Limerick's urban area is larger than Galway's.
The Galway urban area is sixth largest on the island of Ireland (after Dublin, Belfast,
Cork, Limerick and Derry).
General Notes
Galway is Europe's fastest growing city and one of Ireland's Cultural Capitals,
reflecting the attractiveness of Galway as a quality location in which to work, live
and study. Galway's History and its status as an artistic and University City, has
given its citizens and easy manner and openness to visitors which escapes many
large industrial cities in the English-speaking world. The City of Galway lies on
the Atlantic west coast of Ireland. It is the gateway to the unique ecology and
scenic beauty of the Burren, Connemara and the Aran Islands. Our city is like its
people - warm, friendly, welcoming - people with a sense of Ireland's past and a
sharp eye on Ireland's future. We can share with you our clean environment, a
thriving artistic and dramatic culture, traditional pubs with music to suit all tastes,
top quality restaurants and a full calendar of festivals: poetry, arts, music, horseracing, oyster, show-jumping. Galway is an ideal location for the sport enthusiast:
golf, fishing, horse-riding, tennis and badminton are all easily accessible. It is an
ancient city and had important trade links with Europe in the sixteenth century.
Few nations have done more to enrich the English language than Ireland. Many
of the great names of English Literature were and are Irish – Yeats, Joyce, Shaw,
Swift, Beckett, Heaney and many of them were inspired by the west of Ireland
landscape.
Climate
Galway enjoys a year-round balmy and mild climate, due to the warm winds of
the Gulf Stream from the Caribbean. The area experiences a lack of temperature
extremes, with temperatures below 0ºC and above 30ºC being very rare, though
not unheard of. Rain is the most common form of precipitation - hail, sleet and
snow are rare (lying snow is even rarer). Galway, like the whole of Ireland, is also
consistently humid, with humidity normally ranging from 70% to 100% every day.
Galway is also relatively safe from all common natural disasters such as
earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and tsunamis; however, it can sometimes be
affected by windstorms, but not as much as in the north or east of Ireland, or
other parts of Europe.
Due to the city's westerly location, Galway boasts long Summer evenings, with it
not getting truly dark until after 23:00 most days. Due to the mild, balmy climate,
Galway allows plants that would not normally grow at such a high latitude - such
as palm trees - to flourish. There is also a coral beach located at An Cheathrú
Rua, a few kilometres west of the city.
Language & Culture
Galway city is unique among Irish cities because of the strength of its Irish
language, music, song and dancing traditions - it is often referred to as the
“Bilingual Capital of Ireland”. The city is well known for its “Irishness”, and
mainly due to the fact that it has on its doorstep the Galway Gaeltacht (Irishspeaking area). The language is visible on the city streets, with bilingual
signage on display on shops and road signs, and can be heard by locals
around the city. Irish theatre, TV and radio production and Irish music are an
integral part of Galway city life. This has brought an Irish-speaking young
professional population to the city and country, and has generated a renewal
of interest in the language and in language-related activities and social
events.
Events
Galway is very famous for its festivals that revitalize and populate the city
during their period.
Annual events include the Celtic start of Spring festival Fleadh Imboilg (start
of February), the Cúirt International Festival of Literature (April), the Galway
Early Music Festival (May), the Galway Sessions traditional Irish music
festival, the Salthill Air Show (June), the Galway Film Fleadh (July), the
Project06 (July), which runs along the Galway Arts Festival (July), Galway
Races horse racing festival (start of August), Galway Gay Pride Festival (end
of August), Galway International Oyster Festival (September), the Galway
Jazz Festival (October), the Baboró Galway International Arts Festival for
Children (October) and the Tulca visual arts festival (November).
Sport
By far the most popular sports in County Galway (as in most of Ireland outside the
cities) are those controlled by the G.A.A. (Gaelic Athletic Association): hurling and
Gaelic football. Some counties are associated almost exclusively with one or the
other, while a number are equally proficient at both.
No other sport seems to command the same attention among the public as hurling,
followed by Gaelic football. All other sports are of minority interest. A number of
junior rugby clubs compete at their own competitions; likewise a number of towns
have junior soccer clubs, attracting a minority audience, tiny in comparison to the
public attracted to the G.A.A.
More important are also the Galway Races that are known worldwide and are the
highlight of the Irish horse racing calendar. Over the years it has grown into an
annual festival lasting seven days. In Motorsport, the Galway International Rally
was the first international rally to be run from the republic of Ireland. Throughout its
history it has attracted many star drivers from all over the world.
More over sailing on both sea and lake are popular, as is rowing in the River Corrib
with five clubs providing the necessary facilities and organising rowing
competitions.
Golf is a significant recreational activity, and the county has a number of fine clubs
and courses. Athletics is another minority interest. None of these however, have the
popular office of the G.A.A. sports.