Galway: Irish city voted the friendliest in the world

Traditional music, pubs and its people's sense of humour have seen Galway,awarded the title of "friendliest city in the world".

Known as the “cultural heart” of Ireland, it is among three of the country's cities in the top five on the list.

Dublin came in third place and Cork fourth, in the poll compiled by Travel and Leisure magazine as part of their annual ‘World’s Best awards’ based on user experience.

After a tragic year in which nine African-American people were murdered in a church in the city, the friendly community of Charleston, South Carolina, were recognised as runners up, with the magazine saying they “showed the country, and the world, their spirit as well... coming together with love and support”.

Major cities of Oceania also fared well, with Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney making the top 10.

The only British city to make it into the top 30 was Edinburgh which came in at a respectable ninth place, Travel and Leisure acknowledged the “enchanting and magical” city which they recommended visiting multiple times.

The publication also named the world’s unfriendliest cities, with Moscow taking the number one spot, as users criticised its unhelpful locals.