Galway City, Ireland.

Galway, similar to Cork, is little more than a large town with city status. It’s best avoided if you're not very fond of public houses and coarse bar staff.

Galway is more a large town that a city but nonetheless in known locally as the City of the Tribes. It's situated in such a bleak rain-lashed landscape in the west of Ireland that English man, Edmund Ludlow, was coerced to state in the 17 century: “It is a country where there is not enough water to drown a man, wood enough to hang one, nor earth enough to bury him.”

If holidaying there make sure to bring a rain coat and umbrella but never leave them out of your hand in any public house, restaurant or public place or they’ll be stolen almost immediately. Also bring your own toilet paper as the locals (taking recycling to extremes?) are prone to use newspaper – believe me when I say that a month old Irish Examiner is quite hard on one’s bum.