VIRTUAL TOUR OF MEDIEVAL GALWAY LAUNCHED

Eight young men have come together to invent a "virtual reality" tour which guides visitors through the streets of Galway city as they were more than 350 years ago.

Camelot Galway, an interactive walk-through of the medieval streets in 1651, will be available to purchase in the form of a CD-rom.

Users will be able to view the facades of existing Galway businesses and will be able to meet real-life merchants from the city, who have sponsored the project, during their virtual tours.

Visitors to Camelot Restaurant will meet medieval knights sitting inside and will be able to mount horses tethered outside to tour the city on horseback. Inside the Crane Bar they will meet stout drinkers and will enjoy a traditional music session.

A demonstration version of the virtual tour will be available to view later this week at www.galway3D.com

Source: The Irish Times (Monday 29 May 2004)