Hi Kathy,
It's great to hear that you are planning a trip to Ireland next year.
First of all, as you researching your Irish roots, I would recommend checking out
Ireland Family History on Facebook - they are a fountain of useful information.
Regarding accommodation in County Galway, you can check out this
accommodation page for some great advice and suggestions for staying in Ireland. There, you'll be able to find information about staying in everything from hotels and B&Bs to campsites and castles.
There are plenty of fun things to see and do when in County Galway, as
this page surely testifies.
To learn more about using public transport in Ireland, you can check out this
helpful page.
I hope this information will be useful to you!
Regards,
Eoin