City Museum

Galway Museum and Spanish Arch

Open from 10 to 1 pm and 2 to 5 pm, seven days. The Galway Museum is essentially a folk museum and it features a considerable number of artifacts related to the fishing industry, which was, and is an integral part of tradition in the city. The museum aims to provide a cross section of the antiques and implements that were historically used in Galway, reflecting its traditions. Artifacts include farm implements and tools as well as pieces of machinery. There is an impressive collection of military material, including arms. Galway's medieval heritage is also represented in the medieval section, along with a series of 17th century stone carvings.

A small sample of the exhibits:

Aerial photo of Claddagh, 1929	Claddagh Fish Market
Old Engraving of Court House and Lynch's Castle	Old Engraving
Old Lamp	Galway Wiskey Mirror
Old photo Spanish Arches (the house on the left is where the museum is currently located)	Old Map of Galway (from Hardiman's History of Galway)

The following is from their brochure:

Galway City Museum was established in 1976. The premises were built c.1800 as a private house. In recent years they have been occupied by the Comerford and Greenwood families and between 1948 and 1954 by the sculptress Clare Sheridan. It became part of the Corporation's administrative offices for a period, prior to the establishment of the Museum.

Beside the entrance door, on your right as you approach, you will see the Blind Arch and the Spanish Arch. Originally there were four arches. The Museum now occupies the position of the two inner arches. The original Docks were build in 1270 and are now under the foundations of the maroon painted building, on your left as you enter. In 1584 the new Docks were completed. The use of the arches is obscure, it is possible they were used as a storage facility outside the Walls, in this way no taxes would have been levied on the goods stored there. A re-erected fireplace, dated 1602, can be seen in the Blind Arch. It bears the arms of the Lynch and Penrice families and the initials M.L.

Entering the Museum, on your left, are some reminders of the prowess of the Connaught Rangers, a Regiment of Irish Soldiers in the British Army. Teminders here also of our Insurrection of 1916 and the Civil War. The great map of 1651 is displayed adjacent to the carriage of Lady Bandon of Fermoy, Co. Cork. The carriage was built in London in 1850. On the other side of the spiral staircase and overhead are some fine examples of mirrors from Galway premises. Beneath are examples of medieval stonework, some early 17th century, depicting coats-of-arms of some of the ancient city families, the Arms of Galway of 1647 and other stonework. Various early photographs of Galway, Claddagh and the Claddagh Residents are one display together with some old maps and sketches, a Bellarmine Jug and examples of old Rush Lights and early candles. A recent acquisition is a replica in bronze of the Galway Bronze Age Horn, a musical instrument in use from c.1200 - 700 BC.

Entering the room where the turf fire is burning you will see, over the fireplace a number of fish spears and a fine example of a trout from Lough Corrib, preserved in a glass case. On the left of the fireplace are examples of tinsmith's work and old pottery. Further to your left you will see the beautiful wrought iron gates guarding the Archway room which now houses old bicycles. It was used as a Chapel by Clare Sheridan. Further left you will see old boots, wicker baskets, medicine bottles, and old 'time clock' grocery account books of the 1940's, a typewriter of 1908, a glass case containing bag aprons and a shawl which is approximately 200 years old. Next is a display of knife sharpeners, some old tobacco and snuff boxes beneath some drawings of c.1820 of Lynch's castle and the courthouse. On the other side of the doorway is a hand truck which is approximately 100 years old and one on the wall

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