Visitors are often surprised to learn that Galway County is roughly the size of Los Angeles County. This is understandable. Los Angeles County contains ten million people, six freeways, fourteen thousand aspiring screenwriters, and several competing theories about cold-pressed juice. Galway County contains sheep.
But if one overlays Southern California onto the west of Ireland with Salthill firmly anchored to Santa Monica, the map begins to reveal unexpected truths.
Salthill is Santa Monica. This is non-negotiable. It has a promenade, a beach, and a population convinced they live somewhere slightly more important than they actually do.
Moving north, Barna becomes Malibu. The houses get larger, the views improve, and people begin referring to Galway City as if it were a distant and troubled civilisation.
Further west, Spiddal and Inverin become Ventura County. Beyond that lies Clifden, Galway’s Santa Barbara. Like Santa Barbara, it occupies a beautiful position between mountains and sea and is filled with people who have consciously decided not to live somewhere else.
Roundstone, meanwhile, is Carmel-by-the-Sea. It contains artists, boats, carefully considered sweaters, and people who know exactly which shade of white should be applied to a window frame.
The truly wild country beyond Clifden becomes Big Sur. The comparison breaks down only because Big Sur has fewer sheep and more venture capitalists pretending they are escaping civilisation.
East of Salthill lies Galway City itself. This serves as Downtown Los Angeles, although with considerably fewer helicopters and a much stronger commitment to lunchtime pints.
Athenry becomes Pasadena. Respectable. Historic. Slightly convinced it is the real centre of things.
Tuam is Burbank. This may offend both Tuam and Burbank, which suggests it is probably correct. Both places quietly do far more work than their more glamorous neighbours are willing to acknowledge..
The Valley stretches across north Galway. Somewhere between Tuam and Headford one finds the equivalent of Studio City, Sherman Oaks, and Encino, although local estate agents have yet to discover how to charge California prices for houses overlooking fields.
South of Galway Bay, the Clare coast becomes Orange County.
Kinvara is Manhattan Beach. Lahinch is Newport Beach. Spanish Point is Laguna Beach. Kilkee is Dana Point. The similarities are imperfect, but both regions possess an abundance of expensive property and residents who consider themselves distinct from the metropolis to the north.
And this, perhaps, is the most important lesson of the exercise.
Los Angeles County contains ten million people and spends a great deal of energy convincing itself that authenticity still exists somewhere beyond the next ridge.
Galway County contains less than two hundred thousand people and spends a great deal of energy inventing stories about where authenticity used to be.
Both places are ultimately powered by narrative.
One runs on movies.
The other runs on stories told over pints.
The difference is mostly a matter of budget.