The present club was established in 1975 at a meeting in Giblin’s Hotel, now part of TKMaxx department store on Prospect Hill. It was however preceded by a similar club founded in the late 1950s which survived until the late 1960s.
Donal Taheny, the esteemed historian and teacher who passed away in 2014 was a member of the club in the 1950s and a life member of the present day club. In the relativly impoverished 1970s the club was seriously under-resourced and for six or seven years operated free gratis from a storeroom in the Cottage Bar in Salthill which was run by the McLoughlin Family.
The room required the re-arrangement of spare chairs, pub furniture and stout barrels before every meeting. Membership fees for the club’s first season 75/76 were £5, £2 and £2.50 with a membership of 43.
Subsequently membership increased and a large room was obtained in UCG before the club moved to its present premises at Cluan Mhuire (GMIT ) on the Wellpark Road. In 1976 the club also applied for, and received, membership to of The Photographic Society of Ireland which has since become the “Irish Photographic Federation”.
Club membership encompasses a wide segment of modern society and is a forum for lively debate in a common shared passion for photography.
You do not have to have a camera to join the club as you can get practical advice on cameras and equipment from the more seasoned club members and of course, by becoming a member you will have access to our very sought after photography classes which and free to all members and run for the duration of the clubs year.
If you are interested in learning more about the club visit www.galwaycameraclub.com or follow on Facebook.
The 2019/20 season commences on Thursday September 12 with an open night at 8pm in the White Room on the GMIT Campus on the Wellpark Rd.
