The University of Galway is an Irish public university founded in 1845. Located close to the city centre, it stretches along the River Corrib. The university has about 150 active student societies, ranging from the academic to artistic and lifestyle world. It also has more than 40 sports clubs and competes in the most popular Irish field sports of association football, Gaelic football, hurling and rugby union, as well as cricket, hockey and lacrosse. University of Galway has been awarded the full five QS stars for excellence, and is ranked among the top 1% of universities in the world according to QS and Times Higher Education World University Rankings.