This was our first visit to Galway and we were so happy to have landed in the West End and especially at Ernie's apartment. As others have written, Ernie and his son Ernie, Jr. are both wonderful hosts. The apartment--which is larger than it looks in the photos--is less than a year old and designed for tourists with comfortable Ikea furniture, TV with Netflix, nice kitchen and bathroom. There's "pay and display" parking on the street or in a church parking lot a short walk away. The street itself is a food-lover's delight. We were there three nights and could have happily eaten within a stone's throw of the apartment for another week. Visitors staying elsewhere in Galway (and locals) come to the West End for the great restaurants. The neighborhood has undergone a renaissance in the past 6-7 years and there's a sort of funky vibe to the area. It's hip but not so hip that two seniors felt out of place. Plus Galway itself is a great jumping off point for day trips to the Connemara Coast and the Aran Islands. Our time here was a real highlight of our 10 days in Ireland.