| Shop Street | |
| Map Type: | Ireland Galway |
| Namesake: | shops |
| Length M: | 110 |
| Location: | Galway, Ireland |
| Coordinates: | 53.2727°N -9.0527°W |
| Direction A: | Northeast |
| Terminus A: | Abbeygate Street, William Street |
| Direction B: | Southwest |
| Terminus B: | Mainguard Street, High Street |
| Known For: | shops |
Shop Street is the main thoroughfare of the city of Galway in the west of Ireland. It has been pedestrianised since the late 20th century.[1]
As its name suggests, it is Galway's main shopping street, and was one of the first streets in the city to develop a retail focus.[2] Shop Street contains a number of old brick buildings, bright shopfronts, and numerous pubs.[3] The street name "Shop Street" is common in the Connacht region, being found in Boyle, Tuam and Westport as well as Galway.[4] Street performers and buskers are prevalent on the street.
Shop Street contains one of central Galway's best preserved ancient buildings, Lynch's Castle. This 16th-century building was converted into a branch of Allied Irish Banks during the 1960s.[5]
Book shops on Shop Street include Dubray Books and Eason & Son,[6] [7] with Charlie Byrne's Bookshop on nearby Middle Street.
As of late 2017, additional improvements and pedestrianisation works were proposed for Shop Street and the surrounding area.[8]