Irish Name: Gaillimh: "stony"
County Town: Galway
Nickname: The Tribesmen
GAA Colors: Maroon and White
Famous People with Galway roots: James Joyce's wife Nora Barnacle, Eamon Casey, Walter Macken, Máirtín Ó Cadhain, Liam O'Flaherty, Breandán Ó hEithir, Muiris Ó Súileabháin, Eoghan Ó Tuairisc, Oliver St. John Gogarty, Pádraic Ó Conaire, Dónall MacAmhlaigh, Frank Harris, Ellis Dillon and Lady Gregory, the founder of Abbey Theatre. Also from Galway are revoloutionaries like Eamonn Ceannt, Liam Mellowes and John Lynch, a signatory of the American Declaration of Independance. And miscellaneous, like Lord Haw-Haw, executed radio presenter propagandist for the Third Reich, Robert O'Hara Burke, the leader of the first European expedition to cross Australia
County Galway is one of the traditional Counties of Ireland. It is located in the province of Connacht. It was named after the city of Galway (Irish: Gaillimh). There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county.
The county comprises a number of distinct territories which predate the formation of the county by the English colonial administration in Ireland in the late 1500s. The major ones are Iar Connacht, or 'West Connacht', which covers the portion of the county (and also a small part of County Mayo) west of Loch Corrib and which contains Connemara in the far west and Joyce Country in the north-west.
The territory of Aidhne lies in the south of the county and is coextensive with the diocese of Kilmacduagh. Clann Taidg was originally part of Magh Seola but was portioned into a new tuath by the Kings of Connacht in the mid-11th century. It later formed the barony of Athenry.
The territory of what was once known as Uí Maine or Tír Maine covers most of the east of the county but also covers south County Roscommon. Maigh Seola covers the portion of the county along the eastern side of Lough Corrib. A number of inhabited islands are administered by the county; they include Oileáin Árann (Aran Islands) and Inis Bó Fine.
The first inhabitants in the Galway area arrived over 7000 years ago. Shell middens tell us about the existence of people as early as 5000 BC. With the arrival of Christianity many monasteries were built.
County Galway is home to Lough Corrib (the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland) the Na Beanna Beola (Twelve Bens) mountain range, Na Sléibhte Mhám Toirc (the Maum Turk mountains), and the low mountains of Sliabh Echtghe (Slieve Aughty).
Common Galway Surnames: Joyce, Conneely, Burke, O'Malley, McDonagh, Flaherty, Faherty, Mannion, Walsh and King
7 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.GalwayOyster | Feb 25, 2013, 11:42 AM EST
Don't forget the story of the 14 tribes of Galway (Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D'Arcy, Deane, Ffont, Ffrench, Joyes, Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris and Skerrett)that led the city to a golden age of prosperity and international recognition from the 12th century - mid 17th century. Galway is known to this day as The City of the Tribes!
JBRAFTREE | Jul 30, 2011, 03:10 PM EDT
I was just there in early May, East Galway, like Maureen say, time to go back. Airports are a pain in the rectum, but that's another story.
luvtheclover | Apr 11, 2011, 10:00 PM EDT
very informative!!!
hawkeye60 | Jul 05, 2010, 03:08 PM EDT
My grandfather's family came from County Galway, so it has always been my dream to visit. Whether I will ever be able to do so or not is uncertain, but if the chance ever comes I'll be there.
MaureeninCT | May 21, 2010, 09:55 AM EDT
favorite memories of Galway....the street performers at night in the City, B&B overlooking the bay, Ailwee Caves in the Burren....it's time to go back!
starwatts | Apr 14, 2010, 02:44 PM EDT
My family is from Spideal and while just a tiny town, it was lovely and people very friendly. I felt very connected to the place while there.
dessieglynn | Mar 19, 2010, 01:50 PM EDT
HEAVEN!!!!!