One of Galway’s most iconic hotels has been renamed — with the former Hotel Meyrick to be now known as The Hardiman — a member of the Choice Hotel Group.
The hotel has gone through quite a few name changes since it originally opened at the terminus of the Midland and Great Western Railway Company in 1852, and the group say the new name has been chosen to appropriately reflect just how passionate the people of Galway are when it comes to history and culture, music and the arts.
Named after the respected Galway-based historian and scholar James Hardiman (1782-1855 ) who was renowned for his deep love of Irish history and cultural traditions, renaming Hotel Meyrick as The Hardiman is the next chapter for this fine hotel under Choice Hotel Group, and is a fitting name for one of the most well-recognised and beloved buildings in the City of the Tribes.
A founder member of the Irish Archaeological Society and the Celtic Society, James Hardiman, who was born in Westport, Co Mayo holds a special place in Galway cultural circles.
He wrote the then-definitive History of the Town and County of Galway in 1820, made an important collection of Irish verse and songs in his major 1831 anthology, Irish Minstrelsy and his remarkable personal library, attesting to his deep roots as a historian and scholar, was one of the most valuable Irish collections to come to market when it sold in 1856.
The building now named after him has presided over Eyre Square, playing a pivotal role in the Galway social scene, since its very beginning in 1852. Over the years the hotel has been host to many notable and historic guests and has always been a favourite among the arts community too, welcoming countless artists, writers and musicians.
General Manager and proud Galwegian, Patrick Murphy leads the team at the hotel.
“At The Hardiman, we have great pride in our rich history,” he says, “and it feels like everyone in Galway has a connection with the property — as a Galway man, I have my own history, as I used to waiter here myself. It is a privilege to be part of the exciting new chapter in this wonderful hotel’s continuing story.”
The Choice Hotel Group added The Hardiman to its portfolio in late 2017, along with the g Hotel & Spa and prior to this The House Hotel in Galway, and has recently made the significant investment of €7 million in a lavish refurbishment and rebrand of The Hardiman.
They are currently awaiting planning permission for 19 additional bedrooms which will bring the total investment in The Hardiman to €10m.
“We are delighted to share the results of our refurbishment and rebrand with the renaming of the hotel as The Hardiman,” says GM Patrick Murphy. “Our bedrooms and public spaces have been elegantly renovated in keeping with our new name and our original history as a railway hotel, and investments have also been made in key services, with a new WiFi network and TV systems.
“At The Hardiman we currently have 103 rooms, with plans in place to increase this number in 2020, and we have many other exciting future plans for the hotel too — watch this space,” he said.
For more hotel information see www.thehardiman.ie
