Believe all the other reviews: The Forge Bed and breakfast was great. The cost was reasonable and included a parking spot, which was really helpful. Dolores, the host, was really warm and made a great Irish breakfast, which she was also willing to add to and deviate from to suit our needs. I wish I had asked earlier about almond milk! She also had solid suggestions for local sights/day-trips.
Located in Galway's west end, the BnB was also a fast walk to Galway's main streets, but far enough away that you couldn't hear them at night.
Recommendations for Galway City that I wish I'd had before I went:
Restaurants--Tbh. at this point in the trip I was pretty over fish and chips and was therefore very happy to find places with plenty of good alternatives (and leafy greens!), including: Ard Bia at Nimmo's (the best food I had in Ireland hands down and I only stopped in for lunch), Il Vicolo (which has a beautiful back patio overlooking the river), Gemelle (sit outside, split a bottle of wine and spend an early evening eating good food and people-watching), and The Front Door (good Irish food, but go early or prepare to wait 30-40 minutes).
Music: The Crane for traditional Irish music. You can go upstairs later in the evening (8:30) for bigger bands playing every night, but I preferred the intimate setting downstairs, where a fantastic duo played earlier (around 6:30/7). This was on a Saturday--not sure what their schedule usually looks like.
The Quays is a great venue for a Wednesday night, but impenetrable with bodies by 9:00 on the weekend. Local-ish bands there play a mix of American, Irish, and British covers. (Every band played "Valerie" and or "Lola"..???) The place is shaped like a lopsided amphitheater, with the band playing on a metal platform in the middle, which means there's not a bad seat in the house. Wouldn't recommend the food.
Galway City Museum: This museum includes exhibits on early Galway history through the Bronze age, the Celts and their culture/legacy, the Galway Hooker (a kind of ship), Galway's part in Ireland's Independence and civil war, and sea life. A well done, nicely lit, small museum--and it's free!
Nimmo's Pier: This pier, part of South Park and located across from the Spanish Arch, stretches into the sea and gives a nice view of the bay and the city.