Eyre Square Galway

Eyre Square

The Square in the Heart of Galway City

Eyre Square (‘An Fhaiche Mhór’ in Irish) in the heart of Galway City, is officially known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Park. The square has a rich history dating back to medieval times when markets took place on the green in front of the town gates. In 1710, Mayor Edward Eyre officially presented the plot of land to the city. It remains a popular gathering place for visitors and natives alike and the grass areas are often packed on sunny days. There is also a playground here and seasonal markets take place throughout the year. A bust of the US President Kennedy, who was made a Freeman of the city, marks the spot where he made a speech to approximately 100,000 Galway people in 1963, on his last trip before his assassination.

Over the years, the square has undergone a number of name changes and facelifts to become the present square, which received the Irish Landscape Institute Design Award in 2007. There are a number of ornate fixtures in the park, such as the historic Browne family mansion doorway (1627) and the Quincentennial fountain (1984) which is a representation of the Galway Hooker, which is a traditional fishing boat unique to Galway.

Photos of Eyre Square

Shopping in Eyre Square

For new visitors to the city the tourist office on Forster Street, near the train station at the lower end of Eyre Square stocks an impressive range of Irish interest books and maps.

The largest shopping centre in the city centre is the Eyre Square Centre which has over 70 shops is the most popular and vibrant shopping environment in the city centre and includes a mix of local Irish retailers as well as the top high street brands including Penneys, New Look, Tiger, JD Sports, Mothercare, Specsavers, Vera Moda, Jack and Jones, Dunnes Stores, Top Shop, Next, Costa and many more. As well as our leading mix of fashion and leisure retailers, Eyre Square Shopping Centre has a selection of cafe style eateries offering shoppers a range of choices from tasty nibbles to coffee and snacks such as Insomnia, Cafe Nero, Costa Coffee and Starbucks. If you are looking for unique gifts, Giftworks in the centre sells some pretty glassware and pottery from around the world as well as Irish style exotica such as eelskin purses.

Opening hours: 9am to 6.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. On Thursdays and Fridays it opens from 9am to 9pm. Also Sunday opening all year round.

Sport Direct and Marks and Spencer at the top of Eyre Square includes top fashion labels for adults and children. TK Maxx is located here too.

Fallers Sweater Shop, just off Eyre Square, stocks a good range of contemporary and traditional design knitwear, with your traditional Irish tweed caps.

On Williamsgate Street is the Treasure Chest (Tel +353 91 567237), a fine gift shop which stocks an excellent range of quality Irish products; Belleek, Waterford Glass, Royal Tara China, and a wide stock of quality European gifts in glassware, china, linen, lace and tweed. This is also a well known shopping haunt of the rich and famous and has been visited by Ronald Reagan and Sharon Stone.

Eyre Square: what to expect

Eyre Square FAQs

Where did Eyre Square get its name?
Mayor Edward Eyre, from whom the square gets its name, presented the parcel of land that became Eyre Square to the city in 1710. The square was renamed ‘John F. Kennedy Memorial Park’ in 1965, in honor of Irish – American US President John F. Kennedy.

How old is Eyre Square?
Eyre Square dates from 1710 when the land was gifted to the city by Mayor Edward Eyre. It was renamed in 1965 to ‘John F. Kennedy Memorial Park’ or ‘Kennedy Park’ as it was referred to locally. Then in 1992 it was remodeled extensively to the general layout currently in place today.

How do you pronounce Eyre Square?
Eyre is pronounced “air,” when referring to “Eyre Square” in the centre of Galway City.

Eyre Square Map

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