Ballydavid: Traditions and places to visit

Ballydavid is shaped by historical and folkloric traditions. These include a residence dating from 1837, sayings from everyday farming life and a Halloween tale. Nearby, places in Loughrea offer further points of interest; in the wider destination of Galway, there are also trails and cultural sites.

History and traditional customs

In 1837, Ballydavid was the residence of A. Gore Daly. Other traditions preserve short sayings from various situations: “That we may live to see it again” was said at a sheep’s first shearing. “God bless the cow” was said when drinking milk, while “God save all here” was used to greet strangers entering a house. The words connect home and farming with traditional everyday situations.

A Halloween tale is also associated with Ballydavid. In it, a woman prepared a meal and hid an observer to find out whom she would marry. The story offers a glimpse into traditional beliefs about the future and marriage; it represents a single tale, not a regularly occurring event.

Traditional plant knowledge

Traditional plant knowledge classifies plants by where they grow and their attributed effects. Praisaec spreads and damages oat and wheat fields; Gloran grows in meadows and is said to poison turkeys. Black-heads grow on poor land, Flaggers on damp land and clover on good soil. Traditional uses and beliefs concerning animals have also been recorded: garlic was used against jaundice and was considered harmful to cows.

Another traditional remedy for a stye involved placing a gooseberry thorn sideways into the eye. This information is part of historical folk knowledge, not medical advice. It complements the sayings and stories with another aspect of the tradition: observations about plants and how they were interpreted at the time.

Places to visit around Loughrea

In the Loughrea area, Turoe Pet Farm combines a traditional petting farm with extensive indoor and outdoor play areas. Its offerings include farm animals, adventure playgrounds, zip lines, go-karts and seasonal activities. As details may change, check the current offerings before your visit, especially seasonal options.

At Long Point there is a freshwater beach with Blue Flag status. The status may change from season to season, so check whether the designation is current before travelling. Loughrea is also home to the medieval Town Moat: a water-filled town moat dating from the mid-13th century, which is considered to be functioning.

Bus services are also relevant when planning travel around Loughrea. A Citylink commuter bus runs between Galway and Loughrea; there are also regular daily bus services in Loughrea. Check the timetables before your trip. This information refers to Loughrea, not Ballydavid itself.

Galway as a wider travel destination

In the wider destination of Galway, Coole Park offers two trails of different lengths to compare. The easy Family Trail is 1.75 kilometres long and passes the site of the former house and through the walled garden to the Autograph Tree. The Seven Woods Trail covers 4.5 kilometres and passes a viewpoint overlooking Coole Lake as well as extensive wetlands. The distances help you compare the length of the routes; only the Family Trail is explicitly classified as easy.

Another cultural and walking destination in Galway is Dún Aonghasa, which is over 3,000 years old. The visitor centre is open year-round and offers guided tours. It is located at the start of the one-kilometre footpath to the cliff-top fort. Galway’s regional travel offerings therefore include both specific trail distances and a historic site with a visitor centre.

Discover more destinations: Portumna, Lettermore, Letterfrack, Inisheer, Corrandulla, Clifden, Recess, Ballinasloe.

Go to the wider travel guide: Galway.