Galway City, on the west coast of Ireland, sits on
the River Corrib. It is a young and vibrant place, yet
ancient and historic. Although its population is only about
70,000 it is the fastest growing city in Europe.
Galway City, known as the ‘city of the tribes’ with its seaside
suburb of Salthill, is an important tourist centre and a
gateway to the scenic areas of the county.
In the 1400’s, there began in Galway the rule of the
'Tribes', as the leading fourteen families were called.
Their names were Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, Darcy,
Deane, ffont, French, Joyce, Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris,
and Skerrit. Members of these families served as
Burgesses, and as Mayors of Galway up to the capture of
Galway by a Cromwellian army in 1652.
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The city charter was presented in 1484 by King Richard III
and, both prior to and since that time, Galway city has been
a thriving centre of commerce and trade for the West of
Ireland. There is scientific evidence of human habitation in
this area dating back almost 10,000 years, where
archeological digs discovered cooking areas in Gentian Hill
on the coastal outskirts of the city. A paleolithic axe-head
was discovered on the Aran Islands off the Galway coast and
dated over 300,000 years old. However its arrival in this
spot is unclear.
The busy port area once saw large sailing ships bound for
the Americas and was 'home' to the Spanish Armada during its
western voyages. Galway was famous at that time for it's
involvement in the wine trade, particularly Spanish wines,
and the Spanish influence is retained in an area of the city
called the Spanish Arch.
The port housed the local fishing fleets and continues to do
so today. Tankers enter the harbour with many of the staple
goods needed for the city, much as their timber predecessors
did hundreds of years ago. Galway is the 'gateway' to Europe
from the west and the off-shore islands are the last land
before reaching the east coast of North America.
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