Spiddal

Template:Ie citytown infoboxSpiddal or Spiddle (An Spidéal in Irish) is a town on the shore of Galway Bay in County Galway in the Republic of Ireland. The town is 12 miles west of Galway city on the R336 road. Spiddal lies in a Gaeltacht area where Irish is spoken as the main language by most people. The language is coming under increasing pressure from the large number of English speakers moving into the area. Nowadays the majority of native speakers in the town will willingly address visitors in English, but do not wish to switch from Irish to English as the daily vernacular. Also, supprisingly in this area of Cois Fharraige, this view is held reasonably strongly by young families in the town too.

Spiddal is a vibrant friendly town where the people are bilingual in Irish and English. Every summer groups of teenagers come to Spiddal for 3 week Irish language courses. Signposts are in the Irish language. The town has 2 shops one with a petrol station, and 4 restaurants (including a Supermac's franchise outlet). There are also a number of pubs in the town. On most weekend nights and sometimes during the week in summer time there is live traditional Irish music in the pubs.

See also: List of towns in the Republic of Ireland