|
| Printable City Map (83kb) |
 |
 |
| Today |
Tomorrow |
|
/ Interesting Facts About Galway
Interesting Facts About Galway
- Although Galway is often cited as being the fastest growing conurbation in Europe, it was relatively slow to develop. During the early medieval period it was not even considered a town; Athenry was 2.5 times its size. Galway began to prosper in the fifteenth century and it evolved into an important seaport. Wine was one of its major imports and it was the importation and distribution of this commodity which helped to found its commercial prestige.
- St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church (Church of Ireland) is the largest medieval parish church in Ireland still regularly used. Christopher Columbus almost certainly worshipped here in 1477.
- in 1473 Galway was almost destroyed by fire. However, this provided the impetus for its wealthy citizens to erect lavish houses e.g. Lynch's Castle, and the city was rebuilt in a planned fashion.
- Lynch's castle ( the residence of one of the Mayors of Galway and now a bank) is the oldest building in Ireland in daily commercial use.
- The word 'lynch' is reputed to have its origins in Galway. The story goes that the son of a former mayor of Galway, James Lynch Fitzstephen killed a Spaniard (in medieval times Galway had strong trading links with Spain) over a woman. As Chief magistrate the mayor felt it incumbent on him to impose the law even though the defendant was his own son. When nobody could be found to carry out the sentence Fitzstephen is supposed to have executed his son himself. No reference in the town records can be found for this story and it is more than likely false. Incidentally, the real source of the word is thought to be Captain William Lynch of Virginia, USA who in 1782 was indemnified for illegally punishing people.
- After the English Civil War(s) the British parliament at the behest of Oliver Cromwell ordered the execution of the defeated Charles 1. So that he would not be executed by an Englishman volunteers were looked for in Scotland and Ireland. Two Galway soldiers Gunning and Dear offered their services and were sent to England. On 30 January 1649, Gunning was chosen to perform the execution. As a reward, the property where the pub The King's Head now stands was bestowed on him.
- Bubonic plague was introduced into the city by a Spanish ship in 1649 and killed at least 3,700 of its inhabitants and forced many Galway residents to abandon the city temporarily.
- Tigh Neachtain public house, at the junction of Cross and High Street, was the townhouse of Richard Martin (also known as 'Humanity Dick') who, as one of Galway's first Members of Parliament at Westminster, was instrumental in bringing new anti-cruelty laws which led directly to the founding of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).On his actress wife's insistence, he also established a small theatre in Kirwin's lane (adjacent to Busker Browne's pub) where the insurrectionist Theobald Wolfe Tone trod the boards. Tone was rumoured to have been infatuated with Martin's wife.
- The cannons on display on Eyre Square were captured from the Russians during the Crimean War (1853-56) by the British Army who subsequently presented them to the town of Galway. During the 'Fenian fever' of the 1860s they were removed in case the Fenians (a militant separatist organisation) used them as weapons against the government.
- Galway was one of the counties most affected by the Great Famine (1845-47); approximately 20% of the population died. Relief works carried out during the Famine included the construction of the Dyke Road and Threadneedle Road. This still bears the Irish name, Bothar na Mine, The Meal Road, today.
- Queens College Galway opened in 1849 with only 68 students. About 20,000 students now attend.
- The (Roman Catholic) Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven is built on the site of the old Galway gaol.
- Maria Edgeworth, author of Castle Rackrent, considered Galway the dreariest town she had ever been in.
|
|
|
