The Lion’s Tower

Thu, Sep 21, 2017

The Lion’s Tower was part of the old city wall. In the last century, it was situated on Eglinton Street between the Garda Barracks and the Savoy Cinema. Our photograph today, which we show you courtesy of the Board of Works, dates from about 1950 and shows the tower as seen from the yard beside the barracks.

Salerno class of 1987

Thu, Sep 14, 2017

In 1962, the Sisters of Jesus and Mary decided to set up a special class in their national school, Scoil Íde, in Árd na Mara. This class was known as ‘secondary tops’ and was designed to move the girls into secondary level. On September 1, 1965, the nuns opened a new secondary school in a house named ‘Salerno’ on Revagh Road, Rockbarton. They had 65 pupils. The school grew in popularity, the population increased, and there was no room for expansion, so the nuns found a new site on Threadneedle Road and moved into a brand new building there in 1981.

Mainguard Street

Thu, Sep 07, 2017

There was no problem parking on Mainguard Street when this turn of the century photograph was taken. The building to the right was O’Connor’s confectioners and tearooms. They obviously sold newspapers there as well and there was a rate collector’s office in part of the premises. The building was later taken over as a news agency by Mick Holland until it and several others along the street were destroyed in a disastrous fire in May 1967.

Galway hurlers, the 1950 team

Thu, Aug 31, 2017

Galway featured in the first All-Ireland hurling final in 1887 when they were beaten by Tipperary. Their first victory in a final came in 1924 when they won the 1923 decider. They played that day in blue and gold colours. They were known on other occasions to tog out in black and amber jerseys. In the 1930s the GAA decided that each county should adopt its own colours, and as UCG had won the Sigerson that year, and their captain was on the County senior team, it was decided that Galway would play from then on in maroon and white, the colours of UCG.

Fifth class, St Pat’s

Thu, Aug 24, 2017

This being the time of the year when the children start school or go back to school, it prompts memories of our own days behind the desk, ‘the happiest days of our life’ as they are referred to.

Bohermore pubs

Thu, Aug 17, 2017

This happy group of people were photographed in Doherty’s Pub in Bohermore in the 1960s. Those in the back row are, left to right: Kevin Molloy, Luke Doherty, Mrs Doherty, Jim Tierney, and Tom Turley. Second row: Kevin Doherty also known as ‘Doc’, John “Texas” McDonald, Tom Redmond, Joe McGuire, Frank Reilly, Frankie Reilly junior, Tommy Cahill, and Jimmy Nally. In front are Frank Cassidy, Water Lane (with the pint glass), Joe Fagan with the darts, and Jimmy Connolly.

A Commercial Club excursion to Cong, 1915

Thu, Aug 10, 2017

The Commercial Rowing Club was set up in May 1875. The Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club had been in existence since 1864, but as it was the only such club on the river, there was a distinct lack of competition for its oarsmen. Commercial provided that competition.

A historic Galway hurling team

Thu, Aug 03, 2017

“We are blessed with the most wonderful field game in the world. No sport is more skillful, more graceful, more revealing of those who play it, and nobody who has seen hurling played by its greatest exponents can be in any doubt what beauty is, or graciousness or courtesy either.

The Fishmarket

Thu, Jul 27, 2017

It is a pity really that we cannot see this photograph in colour because what we are looking at must have been a wonderful colourful animated scene full of black shawls, patterned and coloured shawls, blue cloaks and red cloaks, white aprons, práiscíns, baskets, scibs, barrels, fisherwomen from The Claddagh, and customers from the town. Imagine the noisy competition between the sellers, the lively female eloquence, the haggling, “Fresh fish, Johnny Dory, lovely mackerel,” etc. It all sounds like great fun and very romantic, but of course it was vital for the Claddagh women who were trying to make a living, to make enough to support their families.

Buttermilk Lane

Thu, Jul 20, 2017

At the time this photograph was taken about 100 years ago, Buttermilk Lane was made up of tenement buildings, some of which housed multiple families. For example, three families lived in Number 2 in 1911; three in Number 4; five in Number 6. There were people with nine different surnames in Number 7, and eight different surnames in Number 8.

The Dyke Road

Thu, Jul 13, 2017

The Dyke Road was originally known as the Terryland Embankment. In 1847 a group known as The Corrib Development Company applied for compensation claiming they had spent a considerable sum constructing the embankment — at the time the river was prone to serious flooding. The Commissioner for Public Works took over possession of the works after giving evidence in reply to the claim for compensation. They pointed out that the embankment was partially built in 1839, but after the water had risen that winter, it had given way. The company carried out more works of reconstruction in 1840, but the flood waters burst it again. The river would flood on each occasion as far as Castlegar. The embankment was left unfinished until 1845 when the company tried once more but failed to retain the river. They were subsequently compensated. The building of the canal a few years later greatly alleviated the flooding problems.

St Anne’s Orphanage

Thu, Jul 06, 2017

St Anne’s was situated in Lenaboy Castle on Taylor’s Hill. The old part of that building dates from the early 18th century. The house, which was situated on 63 acres of land, belonged to Colonel James O’Hara who was, in 1885, chairman of the town commissioners, and who founded a number of Galway industries. A lane led from the house to the gate of the estate which was beside where the Warwick Hotel is today.

Calling all Jes oarsmen and women

Thu, Jun 29, 2017

Rules governing the rowing of schoolboys were formalised by the Irish Amateur Rowing Union in 1927, and rowing schools began to make more frequent appearances at regattas.

The diving tower at Blackrock

Thu, Jun 22, 2017

The warm summer of 1885 encouraged Mr. Moon and his friends to place a springboard at Blackrock where there is a tidal range of 17’3”. This did not please the landlord Col. O’Hara who made life difficult for the bathers, often denying them access to the bathing area.

The opening of Pearse Stadium

Thu, Jun 15, 2017

June 16, 1957, was a blistering hot day, a day of celebration for the Galway GAA fraternity. It was the day the president of the GAA , Seamus McFerran, officially opened the Pearse Stadium in Rockbarton.

Our Lady’s Boys’ Club

Thu, Jun 08, 2017

This club has been a source of guidance and inspiration to the youth of Galway, especially those of working class background, since its foundation by Fr Leonard Shiel SJ, a priest of great vision, in 1940. Indeed this wonderful structure owes a great debt to the Jesuit Order. Since the beginning the club has been based behind the Columban Hall in Sea Road. From the first nervous day of membership, right through their teens, and even in adult life, the spirit and ever watchful eye of the club is with the boys.

Fair day in Williamsgate Street

Thu, Jun 01, 2017

This very attractive study of Mr And Mrs Broderick from Ballintemple was taken in Williamsgate Street c1885. They were all dressed up coming into town for the fair or market ... she in her Sunday best and he in his plus fours, tail coat, and top hat. Many people who came in from the country for the occasions like this would have been similarly dressed.

The Galway Augustinians

Thu, May 25, 2017

These are probably the best known and best worn set of steps in Galway. They were built in the 1855 - 59 period while the present Augustinian Church was being constructed. The site was slightly higher than the road level so the steps were required at the front and the back of the church. The Augustinian connection with the city goes much further back than that.

The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes

Thu, May 18, 2017

A grotto is a natural or artificial cave used by humans in modern times and antiquity. Today, they are often used as shrines in which to place statues of saints, particularly the Virgin Mary. The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes stood in the southwest corner of the grounds of St Patrick’s Church.

Shangort, Knocknacarra

Thu, May 11, 2017

This photograph of the Shangort area of Knocknacarra was originally taken in the 1950s by Aodh MacDúbháin, a teacher in St Enda’s who did a lot of work with An Taidhbhearc. It was taken from Carragh Hill.

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