Just 15km west of Galway city, Spiddal is the perfect spot for a sunny family day out. If you’re exploring Connemara and the West of Ireland, it’s well worth building into your plans.
Spiddal is a picturesque seaside village on the shores of Galway Bay, and part of An Gaeltacht (an Irish-speaking area). It’s one of the largest Irish-speaking settlements in the Galway Gaeltacht, and despite being so close to Galway city, Spiddal still feels like a proper, unhurried Irish village.
Great restaurants, a beautiful beach, a working pier for walks, and a craft village with hands-on activities for kids – Spiddal has plenty to keep a family entertained for a full day.
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Things to Do in Spiddal
The Beach
Coming from the Galway side, before you even enter the village, you’ll find a lovely beach on your left. It’s great for sandcastle building and swimming, with a picnic area and benches nearby.
Ceardlann Craft Village
On the right as you approach the village is the Ceardlann Craft Village, home to craft shops and An Builín Blasta Café, which serves lunches, coffees and homemade cakes. Wander through and you can watch pottery, jewellery, woodwork, painting and musical instruments being made. Several of the workshops offer hands-on experiences for kids – paint your own pottery to take home or have it fired, try decoupage, or join a kids’ painting class at one of the craft studios. It’s worth checking ahead, as workshop offerings can change.
The Quay and Spiddal Pier
Driving through the village, you’ll reach pedestrian lights with a church on your left. Turn left beside the church and you’ll find a car park with a quay where boats are tied up. If the tide is in, kids can happily spend time throwing stones into the sea or clambering over the rocks.
Beside the car park, a walkway leads out to the original Spiddal Pier. It’s suitable for the whole family and is buggy and bike-friendly. You can walk the length of the pier or take a boat trip, and the rocks behind the pier are popular with anglers of all skill levels. Halfway along, a small bridge crosses a bog-fed river with a mini waterfall – the water runs a distinctive brown colour, once memorably described by one visiting family as a “river of coke”!
The walkway ends at a sheltered beach behind the pier, with toilets on site and a lifeguard on duty during the summer months. It’s clean, safe and ideal for hours of splashing and swimming.
Shops and Restaurants
If you haven’t packed a picnic, Spiddal village has plenty of shops and restaurants, where you’ll hear both Irish and English spoken. It’s a nice chance to encourage the kids to try out a little Irish – even just a simple go raibh maith agat (thank you) goes down well locally.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spiddal a good day trip from Galway city?
Yes. Spiddal is only around 15km west of Galway city, making it an easy half-day or full-day trip for families exploring Connemara or the Wild Atlantic Way.
Is the beach in Spiddal safe for kids?
The beach behind Spiddal Pier is sheltered, clean and has toilets on site, with a lifeguard on duty during the summer months. The beach on the Galway side of the village is also suitable for swimming and sandcastle building.
Is Spiddal Pier buggy and bike-friendly?
Yes, the walkway from the car park out to Spiddal Pier is suitable for the whole family, including buggies and bikes.
What can kids do at Ceardlann Craft Village?
Kids can watch craftspeople at work and, at several workshops, take part in hands-on activities such as pottery painting and kids’ painting classes. It’s a good idea to check availability before you go.
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