Hydrolyzes the galactose ester bonds of glycolipids such as galactosylceramide and galactosylsphingosine (PubMed:8661004). Enzyme with very low activity responsible for the lysosomal catabolism of galactosylceramide, a major lipid in myelin, kidney and epithelial cells of small intestine and colon (By similarity). a beta-D-galactosyl-(1<->1')-N-acylsphing-4-enine + H2O = an N-acylsphing-4-enine + D-galactose beta-D-galactosyl-(1<->1)-sphing-4-enine + H2O = D-galactose + sphing-4-enine a D-galactosylceramide + H2O = an N-acyl-sphingoid base + D-galactose Defects in GALC are the cause of globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD). This deficiency results in the insufficient catabolism of several galactolipids that are important in the production of normal myelin. Belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 59 family.