Located near an earlier settlement, Galway grew around a fortification built by theKing of Connacht in 1124. Amunicipal charter in 1484 allowed citizens of the by then walled city to form acouncil and mayoralty. Controlled largely by a group of merchant families, theTribes of Galway, the city grew into a trading port. Following a period of decline, as of the 21st century, Galway is a tourist destination known for festivals and events including theGalway International Arts Festival.[3]
The city's name comes from the Irish nameGaillimh, which formed the western boundary of the earliest settlement,Dún Gaillimhe "Fort Gaillimh".[5] (Mythical and alternative derivations of the name are given inHistory of Galway). Historically, the name wasanglicised asGalliv orGallive,[6] closer to the Irish pronunciation. The city's name inLatin isGalvia. Residents of the city are referred to as Galwegians.
The city also bears the nickname "City of the Tribes" (Irish:Cathair na dTreabh) because of the fourteen merchant families called the "tribes of Galway"[7] who led the city in itsHiberno-Norman period.
The walled city in 1651 (North is to the left). TheRiver Corrib is in the foreground, crossed by what is now "O'Briens Bridge", leading to Mainguard Street.
This led to their gaining complete control over the city and to the granting ofmayoral status by the English crown in December 1484.[12] Galway endured difficult relations with its Irish neighbours. A notice over the west gate of the city, completed in 1562 by MayorThomas Óge Martyn, stated "From the FerociousO'Flahertys may God protect us". A by-law forbade the native Irish (as opposed to Galway'sHiberno-Norman citizens) unrestricted access into Galway, saying "neither O' nor Mac shall strutte nor swagger through the streets of Galway" without permission.
During the Middle Ages, Galway was ruled by anoligarchy of fourteen[7] merchant families (twelve who claimed to be ofNorman origin and two of Irish origin). These were the "Tribes of Galway". The city thrived on international trade, and in theMiddle Ages, it was the principal Irish port for trade with Spain and France. The most famous reminder of those days isceann an bhalla ("the end of the wall"), now known as theSpanish Arch, constructed during the mayoralty ofWylliam Martin (1519–20). In 1477Christopher Columbus visited Galway, possibly stopping off on a voyage toIceland or theFaroe Islands. Seven or eight years later, he noted in the margin of his copy ofImago Mundi:
Men of Cathay have come from the west. [Of this] we have seen many signs. And especially in Galway in Ireland, a man and a woman, of extraordinary appearance, have come to land on two tree trunks [or timbers? or a boat made of such?]
Like most ofIreland, Galway has anoceanic climate (Cfb) according to theKöppen climate classification, being one of the world's mildest cities for latitude, partly because it is on an island. Galway has a year-round mild, moist, temperate and changeable climate, due to the prevailing winds of theNorth Atlantic Current together with theGulf Stream, whilst on the other side of theAtlantic temperatures can be 20 °C cooler or more. The city does not experience temperature extremes, with temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) and above 30 °C (86 °F) being rare. The city receives an average of 1,156 mm (45.51 in) ofprecipitation annually, which is evenly distributed throughout the year. The average January temperature in the city is 5.9 °C (43 °F) and the average July temperature is 15.9 °C (61 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Galway was 31.7 °C (89.1 °F) in July 1921, whilst the lowest temperature recorded was −11.7 °C (10.9 °F) in January 1945.[citation needed]
Whileextreme weather is rare, the city and county can experience severewindstorms that are the result of vigorous Atlanticdepressions that occasionally pass along the north west coast of Ireland. Most of these storms occur between late autumn and early spring. Due to the city's northerly location, Galway has long summer days. Sunrise on summer solstice occurs at 05:07WEST and sunset at 22:07.[14] By contrast, on winter solstice, the sun rises at 08:49WET, and sets at 16:19.[15]
Climate data for Galway, elevation: 8 m or 26 ft, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1861–2002
Spanish ArchGalway River Corrib (Riverside) Quay near Spanish arch captured on a winter evening.Galway CathedralThese cannons, previously at Eyre Square and since moved to Galway City Hall, were presented to theConnaught Rangers at the end of theCrimean War (1854–1856) in recognition of their military achievements.The Millennium Children's Park in Galway, next to one of the city's manycanals.
Lynch's Castle onShop Street is a medieval townhouse built by the prosperous Lynch family in the 16th century and is now a branch ofAllied Irish Banks.[17]
Galway Cathedral, known as the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, was consecrated in 1965 and is constructed from limestone. It has aneclectic style, with aRenaissance Revival dome, pillars and round arches, and aRomanesque Revivalportico that dominates the main façade – which is an unusual feature in a modern Irish church building.[19]
The Hardiman,[21] originally the Railway Hotel, was built by the Great Southern Railway Company in 1845.[22] Also known over the years as the Great Southern Hotel and then Hotel Meyrick, it sits at the southern perimeter ofEyre Square and is the city's oldest hotel still in operation.
The Claddagh is the oldest part of Galway but little or nothing remains of its old thatched village. However, on a side altar of the parish church, St Mary's on the Hill, is the late medieval statue of Our Lady of Galway. The ancient ritual of the Blessing of the Bay takes place on the Sunday nearest to the feast of theAssumption.
"The Browne doorway", originally located on Lower Abbeygate Street but now standing at the north end ofEyre Square, was the doorway to the townhouse of the Browne family, one of the fourteen Tribes of Galway.
"The Lynch Window", on Market Street, at which is a plaque commemorating one of the city's legends. According to legend, in 1493, the then-mayor,James Lynch FitzStephen, hanged his own son for the murder of a young Spanish visitor who had the misfortune to befriend the girlfriend of the mayor's son.[23]
The Hall of the Red Earl (Halla an Iarla Rua) can be viewed through a protective glass wall off Flood Street. It is the earliest medieval settlement fragment surviving within the walls of the city. It was built by thede Burgo family in the 13th century and was a key municipal building for the collection of taxes, dispensation of justice and hosting banquets. It was the medieval equivalent of tax office, court house and town hall.
On the west bank of the River Corrib as it enters the sea is the ancient neighbourhood of The Claddagh. For centuries it was an Irish-speaking enclave outside the city walls. Claddagh residents were mainly fisher folk and were governed by an elected 'King'. TheKing of the Claddagh settled or arbitrated disputes among the locals and had the privilege of a white sail on his fishing boat. While the last holder of the title died in 1972, it is still used in a purely honorary and ceremonial context. The area is also known for its association with theCladdagh Ring.
TheGalway City Museum has two main sections: one about the heritage of Galway and one about Irish artists from the second half of the 20th century. This museum also houses the statue of the poet,Pádraic Ó Conaire which was originally located in the Kennedy Park section of Eyre Square, prior to the Square's renovation. A replica of the statue was erected in Eyre Square in 2017.[24] The museum is near theSpanish Arch, the historical remnants of the 16th century wall.[25]
TheNora Barnacle House Museum in Bowling Green is the smallest museum in Ireland.[26] Nora was the lover, companion and, later, wife of writerJames Joyce.
Fort Hill Cemetery, on Lough Atalia Road, is the oldest cemetery still in use in Galway City. On the northern wall is a memorial to more than 300 sailors of theSpanish Armada who were executeden masse and buried here in the 1580s.[27]
Rahoon Cemetery (officially known as Mount St. Joseph Cemetery), Rahoon Road, on the western edge of the city affords views of the city. It is one of two cemeteries operated byGalway City Council.[28] Among the people buried here areMichael Bodkin (an admirer of Nora Barnacle who was the inspiration for James Joyce's character Michael Furey in "The Dead"),Michael Feeney (the "lover" in Joyce's poemShe Weeps Over Rahoon), and actressSiobhán McKenna.[citation needed]
Bohermore Cemetery (or the New Cemetery, as it also known), Cemetery Cross,Bohermore, is the second cemetery operated by Galway City Council.[28] It contains two mortuary chapels and is the burial place of several important Galwegians, including writerPádraic Ó Conaire, propagandistWilliam Joyce, dramatistLady Gregory and sports officialMichael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin. The cemetery also contains a gravesite and memorial to those who died in theKLM Flight 607-E crash, off the coast of Galway, on 14 August 1958.[29]
There are several smaller cemeteries within the city boundaries. Some are no longer in use or are used primarily by families with ancient burial rights. These are St James's Cemetery (Teampall) in Glenina Heights, Menlo Cemetery nearMenlo Castle, Ballybrit Graveyard near the entrance toGalway Racecourse, and a very ancient early Christian graveyard atRoscam near Merlin Park. Several city churches have graveyards attached which were formerly used for the interment of clergy and parishioners –Castlegar Church, Claddagh Church', St Patrick's Church on Forster Street and St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church. Several bishops are buried in the crypt below the RC Cathedral but this not usually open to the public.[citation needed]
The2022 census indicated that Galway city had a population of 85,910, an increase of over 10,000 from the2011 census figures.
As of 2009, approximately 80% of the population of Galway were Irish. Following an influx of immigrants to Galway during the 2000s, approximately 20% of the population is non-Irish.[30] Slightly more than half of this group (11.3%) are non-Irish Europeans, coming fromPoland and otherCentral European andBaltic States, such asLatvia andLithuania. Smaller numbers of Asian and African immigrants come from East Africa,Nigeria,Zimbabwe andSri Lanka. In the 2006 census, 15.4% of the population were aged 0–14, 76.1% were aged 15–64, and 8.5% were aged over 65. 51.9% of the population were female and 48.1% were male.[31]
As of the2016 census, the population of the city and suburbs were 70.8% white Irish, 14.68% other white, 3.08% black/black Irish, 3.07% Asian/Asian Irish, 2.2% other, with 4% not stating an ethnicity.[32] By the2022 census, 64.3% of respondents identified as white Irish, 12.98% other white, 2.8% black/black Irish, 4.7% Asian/Asian Irish, 2.7% other, with 10.3% not stating an ethnicity.[33]
In 2016, there were 16,844 families in Galway City. As of the 2022 census, 17,245 families were reported, an increase of over 2% from 2016. The average number of children per family in the city was 1.10, lower than the national average of 1.34.[34]
With a population of 79,934, Galway is the fourth most populous urban area in the State and the 23rd most populous area of local government.[35][36] Services such as waste collection, recycling, traffic control, parks and housing are controlled by an eighteen-membercity council elected to five-year terms byproportional representation through means of thesingle transferable vote. The City Council is chaired by a mayor who is elected to a one-year term by fellow councillors. The role of mayor is mainly ceremonial, although they do have the casting vote. The first mayor wasPeirce Lynch Fitzjohn, elected in 1485. The current mayor, Cllr. Clodagh Higgins, was elected in June 2022.[37]
In 1937, the Urban District of Galway became the Borough of Galway, remaining party ofCounty Galway.[38] In 1986, the Borough of Galway became the County Borough of Galway and ceased to part of County Galway.[39][40] In 2001, it was renamed Galway City.[41]
The symbols of the office of the Mayor and the emblems of the dignity of the City Council are the Civic Sword (1620s) and the Great Mace (1710) which are carried in procession before the Mayor and Council on solemn civic occasions. When not in ceremonial use they can be seen at theGalway City Museum. In 1579,Elizabeth I confirmed the city's charter and appointed the Mayor as 'Admiral of the Bay and of the Aran islands'. The title, though extant, is rarely used except for ceremonial purposes.[42]
Galway'sDistrict Court is the main court ofsummary jurisdiction and hears minor cases without a jury. It is responsible for hearing small civil claims, and certain family law cases, administers the liquor licensing laws and is responsible for indicting the accused and sending them forward for trial at theCircuit Court and theCentral Criminal Court.
TheCircuit Court in Galway tries all indictable offences (those cases triable by a judge and jury), except murder, rape, treason, piracy and genocide, which are reserved to the Central Criminal Court. It can also hear appeals from the District Court. Its decisions can be appealed to theCourt of Appeal. Civilly, the court is limited to compensation claims of not more than €75,000. Both parties may waive this amount and grant the court unlimited jurisdiction. Divorce, Judicial Separation and probate cases can be heard provided they are within the financial parameters of the court's jurisdiction. Decisions in civil cases can be appealed to theHigh Court.[46]
TheHigh Court sits four times a year in Galway to hear original actions (actions that are not appeals from lower courts). It also sits twice a year in Galway to hear appeals from the Circuit Court in civil and family law cases. Its decisions can be appealed to theCourt of Appeal, or in some instances, to theSupreme Court, which sits in Dublin.[46]
Galway is known asIreland's Cultural Heart (Croí Cultúrtha na hÉireann)[47] and hosts numerous festivals, celebrations and events.[3] Every November, Galway hosts the Tulca Festival of Visual Arts[48] as well as numerous festivals.
On 1 December 2014, the Director General of UNESCO announced the official designation of Galway as a UNESCO City of Film.
In 2004, there were three dance organisations, ten festival companies, two film organisations, two Irish language organisations, 23 musical organisations, twelve theatre companies, two visual arts groups, and four writers' groups based in the city.[49]
Furthermore, there were 51 venues for events, most of which were specialised for a certain field (e.g. concert venues or visual arts galleries), though ten were described as being 'multiple event' venues.[49] The main squares in the city areEyre Square (containing John F. Kennedy Park) in the centre of the city, andSpanish Parade next to theSpanish Arch.
In 2007, Galway was named as one of the eight "sexiest cities" in the world.[50] A 2008 poll ranked Galway as the 42nd best tourist destination in the world, or 14th in Europe and 2nd in Ireland (behindDingle). It was ranked ahead of all European capitals exceptEdinburgh, and many traditional tourist destinations (such asVenice).[51]The New Zealand Herald listed Galway as one of 'five great cities to visit in 2014'.
TheJames Hardiman Library at theUniversity of Galway houses around 350 archived and/or digitised collections including theThomas Kilroy Collection, the Brendan Duddy Papers on the Northern Ireland conflict, theJohn McGahern archive and the manuscript Minutes of Galway City Council from the 15th to mid-19th centuries.
Among the literary magazines published in Galway areThe Galway Review,Crannóg Magazine, which describes itself as 'Ireland's premier independent fiction and poetry magazine since 2002' andROPES, an annual literary journal published by students of the MA in Literature and Publishing at theUniversity of Galway. Galway also hasCharlie Byrne's Bookshop.
Gretta Conroy, in James Joyce's short story "The Dead", remembers her lover Michael Furey throwing stones against the window of her grandmother's house on Nun's Island, in the city. Joyce's poemShe Weeps Over Rahoon describes the grief of Joyce's wifeNora Barnacle over the death of her onetime boyfriend Michael Bodkin. Both Bodkin and Nora were from Galway and Bodkin is buried in Rahoon Cemetery in the western suburbs of the city.[52]
Galway has four cinema complexes within or near the city centre: the 11-screen IMC cinema, the 9-screen EYE cinema, the 10-screen Omniplex in Salthill and the 3-screenarthouse cinemaPálás.[55]
Galway is home to theGalway Film Fleadh, Ireland's foremost film festival, which takes place over six days each July. The Galway Film Fleadh is a platform for international cinema in Ireland and an advocate for Irish national cinema, for which the festival's identity has become synonymous.[57] The Galway Film Fleadh is an industry festival, with many industry events taking place under the name of the Galway Film Fair.[58]
In 2014, aMovieMaker magazine panel of U.S. filmmakers, critics and industry executives included the Galway Film Fleadh on its list of the "25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World".[59]
Galway has a permanentIrish language theatre located in the city centre,Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe, which was established in 1928 and has produced some of Ireland's most celebrated actors. TheDruid Theatre Company has won international acclaim for its cutting-edge production and direction.
There are several theatres in the city, includingNuns Island Theatre, Bank of Ireland Theatre, Druid Lane Theatre, Black Box Theatre, andTown Hall Theatre (a modern art theatre established in 1995).[60]
Galway has a varied musical scene. As in most Irish cities, traditional music is played in pubs and by street performers. Galway Early Music Festival presents European music from the 12th to the 18th century. It encourages not only music but also dance and costumes. The festival involves both professional and amateur musicians.[62]
Galway Cathedral Recitals is an international series of concerts of classical music which has taken place inGalway Cathedral each July and August since 1994.[63]
A number of choirs are based in the city, including the Tribal Chamber Choir (founded in 2009);[64] the Galway Baroque Singers (founded in 1983); Cois Cladaigh Chamber Choir (founded in 1982) and which sang at the inauguration of PresidentMichael D. Higgins inSt Patrick's Hall,Dublin Castle on 11 November 2011; Galway Gospel Choir (founded in 2001); and Galway Choral Association (founded in 1998).Galway Cathedral is home to Galway Cathedral Choir (founded in 1965), which sings every Sunday and at all the major ceremonies in the cathedral.[65] In addition to its parish choir the Collegiate Church of St Nicholas is home to two other choral groups, the Choral Scholars (adult) and the Schola Cantorum (juvenile).
TheGalway Arts Festival (Féile Ealaíon na Gaillimhe) takes place in July. It was first held in 1978 and since then has grown into one of the biggest arts festivals in Ireland. It attracts international artists as well as provides a platform for local and national performers. The festival features parades, street performances and plays, musical concerts and comedy acts. Highlights of the festival tend to be performances byMacnas andDruid Theatre Company, two local performance groups.TheGalway Youth Orchestra was formed in 1982.
The folk and traditional singerDolores Keane lives in Galway.
Galway city is a major centre for traditional Irish music. The traditional groupDe Dannan were based in Galway. Musicians such asMickey Finn,Frankie Gavin, Johnny (Ringo) McDonagh,Alec Finn,Máirtín O'Connor and Gerry Hanley were born or came to prominence in Galway.Carl Hession, an Irish composer, arranger and traditional musician, also hails from Galway city.
Comhaltas branches operate in several parts of the city, teaching Irish traditional music to children. Dusty Banjos runs classes and sessions in the city for adults switching from other musical traditions to Irish traditional music, and for adult beginners and improvers who are not at a level where they could participate in general sessions.
Traditional and contemporary music can be heard at numerous locations around the city. Among the more notable locations are The Crane Bar on Sea Road, Tigh Neachtáin Quay Street andRóisín Dubh on Lr Dominic Street.
Galway City has a reputation amongIrish cities for being associated with theIrish language,music, song and dancing traditions. It is sometimes referred to as the 'Bilingual Capital of Ireland', although like elsewhere in Ireland, inhabitants converse mostly in English. The city is well known for its "Irishness", mainly because it has on its doorstep the GalwayGaeltacht. Irish theatre,television andradio production and Irish music form a component of Galway city life, with bothAn Taibhdhearc, the National Irish Language Theatre, in Galway city itself, whileTG4 andRTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta headquarters are in theConnemara Gaeltacht elsewhere in County Galway. Four electoral divisions, or neighbourhoods (out of twenty-two), are designated asGaeltachtaí.[49] theUniversity of Galway also holds the archive of spoken material for theCeltic languages.[67]
Many sporting, music, arts and other events take place in the city. The largest of these annual events begins with theGalway Film Fleadh and theGalway Arts Festival in July, theGalway Races in August, and theGalway International Oyster Festival in September. Other events include theFleadh Imboilg, the Baboró International Children's Festival, theCúirt International Festival of Literature, the Galway Early Music Festival,[68]Seachtain na Gaeilge (March), Salthill Air Show (June), the Colours Fringe Festival, Little Havana Festival, the Galway Sessions,[69] Galway Garden Festival,[70] Galway Comedy Festival, Baffle Poetry Festival, Galway Aboo Halloween Festival, Tulca Festival of Visual Arts,[71] Irish Fly Fair and Angling Show,[72] Galway Science and Technology Festival, Spirit of Voice Festival, Galway Christmas Market,[73]Galway African Film Festival and Galway Pride Festival.[74]
Galway Christmas market 2016
In June 2010, the Super8 Shots film festival was launched in Galway, the first Super 8 mm (0.31 in) film festival to occur in Ireland.[75]
The patron saint of the city since the 14th century has beenSt Nicholas of Myra. The Roman Catholicdiocese of Galway was created in 1831 following the abolition by theHoly See of theWardenship of Galway. It was united with the diocese ofKilmacduagh (est. 1152) and given the administratorship of the diocese ofKilfenora (est. 1152) in 1883. Its full name is the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administratorship of Kilfenora (in Irish – Deoise na Gaillimhe, Chill Mac Duach agus Riarachán Aspalda Cill Fhionnúrach, in Latin – Diocesis Galviensis, Duacensis ac Administratio Apostolica Finaborensis). The diocese is under the patronage of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas (Galway),Saint Fachanan (Kilmacduagh) andSt Colman (Kilfenora). As the diocese of Kilfenora is in the Ecclesiastical MetropolitanProvince of Cashel the Bishop of Galway is its Apostolic Administrator rather than its bishop. The dioceses of Galway and Kilmacduagh are in the Ecclesiastical MetropolitanProvince of Tuam. The current bishop is Most Rev. Martin Drennan, installed 3 July 2005. Of the 38 parishes in the RC diocese, 14 are situated in the city and are divided into twodeaneries – the deanery of Galway City West and that of Galway City East. In each deanery, aVicar Forane exercises limited jurisdiction on behalf of the bishop.
Galway has a diverse sporting heritage, with a history in sports ranging from horse racing,Gaelic games, association football and rugby to rowing, basketball, motorsport, greyhound racing and others. TheGalway Races are known worldwide and are the highlight of the Irish horse racing calendar. Over the years it has grown into an annual festival lasting seven days.
The previous tenants of Eamonn Deacy Park, also calledGalway United, first competed in the League of Ireland in 1977, then known asGalway Rovers.Michael D. Higgins, later electedPresident of Ireland in 2011, served as the president of the club in a ceremonial capacity.
Galway United has won domestic honours in several men's and women's competitions. The men's team wereFAI Cup winners in 1991 andLeague of Ireland Cup winners in 1986 and 1997, while the women's team wereAll-Island Cup winners in 2023 and 2024.[citation needed]
The professional team for the province,Connacht Rugby, is based in the city. The team play their home matches at theGalway Sportsgrounds which is the current provincial Rugby Stadium.
NearbySalthill has a 25m competitive swimming pool in the Leisureland complex and three competitive swimming clubs (i) Shark Swimming Club, (ii) Laser Swimming Club and (iii) Galway Swimming Club train there. There is also ahandball andracketball club while there are several martial arts clubs throughout the city. There is a 25m pool at NUI, Galway as well as one at Renmore's KingFisher Club.
Sailing is common androwing on the River Corrib is undertaken by seven rowing clubs. These provide related facilities and organise rowing competitions. These clubs include Gráinne Mhaol Rowing Club, Tribesmen Rowing Club, Galway Rowing Club,Coláiste Iognáid ('The Jes') Rowing Club,St. Joseph's Patrician College ('The Bish') Rowing Club,NUIG Boat Club and Cumann Rámhaiochta Choláiste na Coiribe.
In 2009 Galway hosted a stopover on theVolvo Ocean Race and the city was the finishing point of the round-the-world competition in July 2012.
Near the city centre, on College Road, theSportsground has greyhound races every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. It was refurbished by the Irish Greyhound Board,Bord na gCon, and the facility is shared with theConnacht rugby team.
Galway City is the capital ofConnacht. Galway has a strong local economy with complementary business sectors, including manufacturing industry, tourism, retail and distribution, education, healthcare and services that include financial, construction, cultural, and professional.[citation needed]
Most (47%) of the people employed in Galway work in either the commerce or professional sector, with a large number (17%) also employed in manufacturing. Most industry and manufacturing in Galway, like the rest of Ireland, ishi-tech (e.g.ICT,medical equipment,electronics,chemicals, etc.), due to theCeltic Tiger economic boom. Companies such asBoston Scientific,Medtronic,EA Games,Cisco andSAP AG have their regional offices or other offices in Galway City and environs. Tourism is also of major importance to the city, which had over 2.1 million visitors in 2000, and produced revenue of over €400 million.[81]
The head office ofSmyths, a toy shop company, is in Galway.[82]
There are two radio stations based in the city –Galway Bay FM (95.8 FM) broadcasts from the city to the whole county;Flirt FM (101.3 FM) is the student radio station for theUniversity of Galway.
One of the main regional newspapers for the county is TheConnacht Tribune which prints two titles every week, theConnacht Tribune on Thursday, and theGalway City Tribune on Friday. As of January 2007, The Tribune has a weekly readership of over 150,000. Another Galway-based newspaper is theGalway Advertiser, a free paper printed every Thursday with an average of 160 pages and a circulation of 70,000 copies. It is the main paper of theAdvertiser Newspaper Group which distributes 200,000 newspapers per and more week to a variety of other Irish cities and towns.
Galway Airport, located 6 km (3.73 mi) east of the city atCarnmore, ceased to have scheduled passenger flights on 31 October 2011.[83] Because the runway is too short to take modern passenger jet aircraft, it is only capable of limited operations.[84]Aerfort na Minna (22 km (13.67 mi) west of the city) operates regular flights to each of theAran Islands(Oileáin Árann).Shannon Airport (90 km) andIreland West Airport (86 km) are the nearest international airports, both of which have flights around Ireland and to Britain, Continental Europe and North America (from Shannon).
Buses are the main form of public transport in the city and county. Routes operated byBus Éireann include routes 401 (Salthill/Parkmore), 402 (Seacrest/Merlin Park), 404 (Newcastle/Oranmore), 405 (Rahoon/Ballybane), 407 (Bóthar an Chóiste) and 409 (Parkmore Industrial). Routes operated by City Direct include routes 410 (Salthill), 411 (Knocknacarra – Cappagh Rd), 412 (Knocknacarra Express), and 414 (Barna).[85]
Various bus companies also provide links throughout County Galway and nationwide.[86] These operate from a number of locations:
The main bus and rail station in the city isCeannt Station.
Galway Coach Station, located at Fairgreen,[87] is also a coach transport hub. Scheduled direct and commuter services operate between the Coach Station, Dublin and Dublin Airport, as well as services to Limerick, Cork and Clifden. These are operated by Aircoach, Citylink and Gobus.[88][89]
Other regional bus operators use various bus stops around the city centre, and many serve the NUIG and GMIT campuses as well.
Map of the West of Ireland. Western Rail Corridor ex-GSWR line south of Limerick in green, other ex-MGWR lines are in red.The Galway train
Galway's main railway station isCeannt Station (Stáisiún Cheannt), which opened in August 1851, and was renamed in honour ofÉamonn Ceannt in April 1966.[90]
TheMidland Great Western Railway reached Galway in 1851, giving the city a direct main line to itsBroadstone Stationterminus in Dublin. As the 19th century progressed the rail network inConnacht was expanded, making Galway an importantrailhead. The nearby town ofAthenry became a railway junction, giving Galway links toEnnis,Limerick and the south in 1869 andSligo and the north in 1894. In 1895 theMGW opened a branch line between Galway andClifden.
The 20th century brought increasing road competition, and this led theGreat Southern Railways to close theClifden branch in 1935. In the 1970s the state railway authorityCóras Iompair Éireann closed theSligo-Athenry-Ennis line to passenger services. It later closed to freight as well.
Iarnród Éireann, Ireland's national rail operator, currently runs six return passenger services each day between Galway andDublin Heuston, also serving intermediate stations. Travel time is just under 3 hours. Services on the Galway–Limerick line have now resumed, with around 5–6 trains each way per day.
Four national primary roads serve the city: theM6 motorway running east–west (Athlone, Dublin), theM17 motorway running north from the M6 to Tuam, theN63, formerly theN17, connecting Galway with the Northwest (Tuam,Sligo,Donegal Town,Letterkenny andDerry), and theM18 motorway linking Galway to southern towns and citiesGort,Ennis,Shannon Town,Limerick andCork joining up with The Wild Atlantic Way. In addition, there are plans for a semi-ring road of the city, the Galway City Outer Bypass.[91][92][93] There is also anInner City Ring (Cuar Inmheánach) route that encircles the city centre, most of which ispedestrianised.
Galway is considered the gateway toConnemara and theGaeltacht, including Mám, An Teach Dóite, Cor na Móna, Ros Muc, Bearna and An Cheathrú Rua. TheN59 along the western shore ofLough Corrib and the R337 along the northern shore ofGalway Bay both lead to this largely rural and highly scenic region.
TheRiver Corrib is by far the most important waterway in Galway and a number of canals and channels were built above and through the city. The purposes of these to divert and control the water from the river, to harness its power and to provide a navigable route to the sea.[94] Of these, there were two major schemes – one between 1848 and 1858 and the other during the 1950s. The canals provided a power source for Galway and were the location of the first industries in the mid-19th century. The Eglinton Canal provided a navigation from the sea (at theCladdagh Basin) to the navigable part of the river (above the Salmon Weir Bridge). Most of the mills are still used today for various purposes; for instance, theUniversity of Galway still uses awater turbine for electricity generation for their building on Nun's Island.
Currently, there are four bridges across the Corrib. Following the southward flow of the river these are, from the north: the Quincentennial Bridge, the Salmon Weir Bridge, the William O'Brien Bridge and the Wolfe Tone Bridge. There are plans for a fifth bridge as part of the Galway City Outer Bypass project. The Clare River flows from the North of the County Galway, throughTuam,Claregalway intoLough Corrib.
Galway is the most central port on the West Coast of Ireland in the sheltered eastern corner of Galway Bay.[95] The harbour can be used by vessels up to 10,000 tonnesdeadweight (DWT) and the inner dock can accommodate up to 9 vessels at any one time.[citation needed]
Regular passenger ferry and freight services operate between Galway and the tourist destination of theAran Islands which is home toWorld Heritage SiteDún Aonghasa. The islands also have regular links with the towns ofRossaveal andDoolin, which are physically closer but far smaller.
Commuter ferry services have been proposed to the tourism town ofKinvara, on the opposite side ofGalway Bay.[96]
Major work in the harbour area was carried out in 2009 to accommodate the stopover of theVolvo Ocean Race. This was one of the biggest events ever to visit Galway. The event returned with the finale of the race in June 2012.[citation needed]
The city is planned as the start of theE2 European long-distance path, running for 4,850 kilometres (3,010 mi) to Nice, though (as of 2012) the Irish section was incomplete.[97]
Galway Textile Printers, located on Sandy Road, was the first major industry to come to Galway and quickly became one of the biggest employers in the west of Ireland. Some of those who worked there were specialists who were brought in to help set the factory up, but most employees were local. The Mills eventually went out of business in the early 1980s and its former site now hosts various small business establishments.[98][99]Celtrak is an IT and Electronic Engineering company, founded in 2000.
The University of Galway was founded in 1845 as Queen's College, Galway, before becoming known as University College, Galway (U.C.G.) and then as the National University of Ireland, Galway. It was renamed "Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway" in September 2022.[101] The university is divided into several colleges, including the College of Arts, Social Science and Celtic Studies, the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, the College of Business, Public Policy and Law, the College of Science and the College of Engineering and Informatics. The university had an enrollment of 16,000 in 2010. The Biomedical Research Building was opened in 2014.[102] It houses the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI). Also opened in 2014 were the Hardiman Building and a School of Psychology.[103][104] The National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC) is an affiliate of the University of Galway.[105]
TheCentral Applications Office (CAO), the organisation which oversees applications to colleges and universities in Ireland, is also headquartered in the city. A related organisation, thePostgraduate Applications Centre, processes some taught postgraduate courses.[109]
Publicly funded health care and social services are provided in Galway by the HSE (West) division of the Health Services Executive.The main city hospital, Galway University Hospitals, is located on two campuses —University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital.[110]
Two private hospitals – TheGalway Clinic and theBon Secours Hospital, Galway – also operate in the city.Galway Hospice provides palliative care for the people of Galway City and County on a homecare, inpatient and daycare basis.[111]
^Kavanagh, Mary.Galway-Gaillimh: a bibliography of the city and county. Galway County Council, 2000.
^abThey were the merchant families of Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, Darcy, Deane, Font, Ffrench, Joyce, Kirwin, Lynch,Martyn, Morris, and Skerrett.
^Blake-Forster, Charles Ffrench (1872).The Irish chieftains; or, A struggle for the crown. McGlashan and Gill.In 835 the plundering Danes [..] burned the village which then stood on the present site of Galway. In 1124 the village was rebuilt, and [..] a strong castle was erected
^"Within the Walls of Medieval Galway".ouririshheritage.org. Retrieved3 February 2021.In 1484, Richard III granted Galway a charter, permitting its citizens to form a corporation and to elect a mayor
^Local Government (Galway) Act 1937, s. 4: Formation of the Borough of Galway (No. 3P of 1937, s. 4). Enacted on 10 June 1937. Act of theOireachtas. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 24 June 2021.
^Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985, s. 5: Establishment of Borough of Galway as County Borough (No. 7 of 1985, s. 5). Enacted on 3 April 1985. Act of theOireachtas. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 24 June 2021.
^Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985 (County Borough of Galway) (Appointed Day) Order 1985 (S.I. No. 425 of 1985). Signed on 18 December 1985. Statutory Instrument of theGovernment of Ireland. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book on 24 June 2021.
^Hardiman, James (1820).The History of the Town and County of the Town of Galway. From the Earliest Period to the Present Time. Dublin: W. Folds & Sons. p. 285.ISBN978-1297510311.
^Murphy, Brian (2016).Forgotten Patriot: Douglas Hyde and the Foundation of the Irish Presidency. Cork: The Collins Press.ISBN9781848892903.
^21 February 2007 Investment in Regional Airports to Aid Balanced Regional DevelopmentArchived 27 September 2011 at theWayback Machine (Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs) "However, before any major development can take place at Galway Airport, the issue of runway length must be addressed. Galway Airport has the second shortest runway length of all of the regional airports in Ireland used for scheduled flights. The total length of the runway is 1350 m, which means that the number of aircraft types that can use it is limited." – Ministerial statement.
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