Quays Pub

Not far from before the Wolfe Tone bridge on Quay St. stands The Quays. The 19th century building that is now the Quays originally comprised a two-story house with two doors, one window and an outside toilet. Located in what was once known as Water Gate Street , the pub stands in the heart of Galway’s Latin Quarter, surrounded by medieval buildings and cobbled streets.The pub, originally named Lydon’s, was particularly popular with the fishermen of Galway. It was owned by two sisters, Mary and Delia Lydon, and Delia in particular was a larger than life character. Her girth alone was legendary; her undergarments billowing on the pub’s washing line were in fact oft mistaken for sails from the nearby Claddagh boats.

The Quays has always been frequented by all manner of characters. Two of its most famous were musician Mickey Finn with his famous white fiddle, and big Biddy Ward, whose portrait now adorns the old part of the pub – Biddy’s favorite spot. Both unfortunately are dead now, Mickey at an early age, and Biddy at the grand old age of 80.

She herself would sit in the corner of the old bar, supping porter and occasionally bursting into song when sufficiently lubricated; much to the delight of locals and tourists alike. She was nevertheless a shy woman, and would not perform to order; much to the chagrin of the twenty odd television crews from around the world who have tried desperately over the years to film the all-night ‘Quays Sessions’.