Old Galway
Shantallow House
Our photograph today shows two unidentified young ladies standing in front of Shantallow house in the mid 1940’s. Prior to the building of the council houses we know as Shantalla, this house was more or less surrounded by green fields. At one time the house was owned by a distinguished engineer named William Blood, who was related to the Maunsell family from across the road in Fort Eyre. Blood’s nephew was George Johnson Stoney who was Professor of Natural Philosophy in Queen’s College, Galway from 1853-57, and who lived in this house during that time. He was a distinguished amateur scientist who worked for a time as Lord Rosse’s
From Galway to New York in 1952
The Aisling was a rig kedge which was built in McDonagh’s Boatyard in 1946 by John McNally to a design by A.A. Pemberthy who was a district engineer with the ESB. It was intended for Mediterranean cruises. Most of the vessel was of timber cut in County Galway and it also included part of the recently demolished stand at Balybrit. John McNally unfortunately died before the boat was built, and a man called Tony Jacob from Rosslare bought the half finished vessel. He had gone to school with Fionn and Christo her Darby from Killiney, with Anthony Blyth from Athenry and with David Webb from Nenagh.Having bought the boat, he contacted his schoolmates with a proposal, and they all jumped at the chance
Father Michael Griffin
Ninety years ago this week, Galway was abuzz with the news that Fr Griffin, a junior curate for the parishes of Bushy Park and Barna, apparently responding to a sick call, went out into the howling gale in the company of three men who were said to have trench coats and rubber boots, and disappeared. The suspicion was that he had been decoyed from his house. It was significant that he did not take the Blessed Sacrament with him. His housekeeper heard very loud knocking as if with the butt ends of revolvers on the front door near midnight, as did one of the neighbours. Apparently Fr Griffin opened his
President Kennedy in Galway
Saturday, June 29th, 1963 may have been dull and overcast, but the city of Galway presented a colourful spectacle amid scenes of unprecedented enthusiasm. It was covered in Tricolours and the Stars and Stripes, in bunting and banners, in window boxes of flowers and newly painted buildings. There was a carnival atmosphere. Some 600 gardaí were up early, lining the streets ahead of the crowds that began to arrive from 7am. There were journalists here from all over the world to cover the event.As his elicopter circled the skies above the Sportsground, the President would have been aware of a massive Irish flag on the pitch below.
Clare Sheridan in Galway
She was born Clare Frewen in 1885, the only daughter among the children of the highly talented three Jerome sisters. She was a cousin of Winston Churchill. She married Wilfred Sheridan, a descendant of Richard Brinsley Sheridan. He was killed in World War 1. They had 3 children, Margaret, Elizabeth and Dick. Elizabeth died very young, and in her grief, Clare decided to make some kind of memorial to her. A talent for sculpture became evident and a career was launched.She produced various types of images, but it was her portrait heads that made her reputation. She became a successful society artist,
Watery Woodquay
Most of the area seen in this photograph was once part of a grant of land to Edward Eyre in 1670. It was all originally outside the city walls and was mostly made up of 3 islands which included St. Stephen’s Island and Horse Island.Wood Quay, or Barrachalla (Bárr an Chaladh) was so called because fuel used to be brought in there by boat. It was occasisonally known as Galway’s second docks. References to the placename go back to at least 1688. Originally, the water came right up to where McSwiggans is today. In 1841, it went as far as the entrance to Abbey Lane. There were regular calls for having the wood quay repaired, as it was a landing place for a lot of boat traffic that came down the river.
Lord Dunkellin's Statue
In 1873, this imposing statue was unveiled in Eyre Square in honour of Lord Dunkellin, son of Lord Clanricarde, and heir to the family estates. He had a distinguished military career before being elected MP for Galway City in Parliament. He held the seat for 8 years before being elected for the County in 1865. He died in 1867. There was a very large gathering in the Square on the day of the unveiling with lots of toasts and speeches. The sculpture was a very fine one by the distinguished artist John Henry Foley.But if the artist was popular, the subject of his artwork was not. In the first place, Clanricarde’s tenants were forced to contribute to the cost.
College House, A Brief History
This photograph was originally taken in 1983 as the corporation was preparing to knock down the high wall that ran around St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church and replace it with the railings that had surrounded Eyre Square… one of the better Quincentennial projects that helped improve the face of Galway.At the end of Church Lane you can see College House. It fronted on to Market Street, and behind it was the Monastery School and, behind that again, Bowling Green. The residence of the Patrician Brothers was to the east of the enclosed quadrangle of the school, and the outoffices to the west thereof.In 1650 College House was on the site of the Athy Castle, reputedly the first stone castle built in Galway.