Galway City Museum
Fáilte chuig Músaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe
The Claddagh
Looking West from Galway Bay
Galway Hooker
Pádraic Ó Conaire Statue

Visit the Making History Galway Blog for more behind the scenes of our major redevelopment


Welcome to Galway City Museum

GALWAY CITY MUSEUM is a spacious, modern building, situated in the heart of Galway on the banks of the River Corrib, overlooking the famous Spanish Arch. The Museum houses a variety of permanent and touring exhibitions dealing with archaeology, local history, art & craft.

MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS:
Routes to the Past (Prehistoric Galway); Galway Within the Walls (Medieval Galway); Pádraic Ó Conaire: Man & Statue; Dance Hall Days; Cinema in Galway; the Arts in Galway; and Galway & the Wars of Empire.

TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS:

Ceramics & Glass at Galway City Museum
An international selection from the Irish American Cultural Institute's O'Malley Collection on loan from the University of Limerick. New temporary exhibition open on first floor gallery for summer 2013.

Home Improvements: Responding to Poverty in the West, 1891-1923
In 1891, Arthur J. Balfour, Chief Secretary for Ireland, established the Congested Districts Board to provide assistance to 'congested districts'. This photographic exhibition, featuring images from the National Library of Ireland, shows the resettlement of tenants from congested districts, the building of new houses, changes in agricultural practices and the development of the fishing industry. It is further enhanced by a series of Manchester Guardian articles written by John M. Synge and illustrated by Jack B. Yeats.

Uisce & Beatha/Water & Life: Heritage Exhibition on People, Places, Boats & Water
An exhibition, in conjunction with Galway City Heritage Office, of old photographs associated with Galway's maritime and water heritage. A selection of 50 images, dating from 1890s-1990s, submitted in response to a public appeal, and accompanied by some maritime objects from the collections of Galway City Musuem.

OPENING HOURS:
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday & Monday: CLOSED

ADMISSION is FREE!
Follow galwaymuseum on Twitter Find Galway City Museum on Facebook

Recent News

Home Improvements:
Responding to Poverty in the West, 1891-1923

In 1891, Arthur J. Balfour, the British Chief Secretary for Ireland, established the Congested Districts Board to provide assistance to 'congested districts' – areas regarded as exceptionally poor and underdeveloped – along the western seaboard.

The Board was given the power to amalgamate holdings; fund migration; encourage agriculture, fisheries and local industry; and improve housing and sanitation.

This photographic exhibition, featuring images from the National Library of Ireland, shows the resettlement of tenants from congested districts, the building of new houses, changes in agricultural practices and the development of the fishing industry in counties Galway, Mayo and Donegal. The exhibition is enhanced by a series of Manchester Guardian articles written by John Millington Synge and illustrated by Jack B. Yeats.

Galway - Within the Walls

Image courtesy of the Dept. of Archaeology, School of Geography and Archaeology, NUI, Galway and the National Museum of Ireland A Portugese Faience vase* found at Quay St, Galway and dated to 1600-1650 features in the Galway - Within the Walls exhibition

Little is known about Galway prior to the 12th century. Galway first appears in recorded history as the place where Toirdhealbhach Ó Conchobhair, king of Connacht erected a fortification at Bun na Gaillimhe (the mouth of the River Galway).

In 1230 the Anglo-Norman Richard de Burgo fought with Gaelic Irish at Galway but was forced to withdraw. Richard returned in 1232 and built the first stone castle in Galway. Richard's son Walter is credited with establishing the walled town at Galway having granted the citizens their first mural charter c. 1270, which allowed them the right to levy tolls on goods to finance the building of the town walls.

This exhibition tells the story of life in medieval Galway and its residents, in times of fortune and strife. It features a large selection of archaeological artefacts found in the City in recent years.

*Image courtesy of the Dept. of Archaeology, School of Geography and Archaeology, NUI, Galway and the National Museum of Ireland

 

 Cinema:
Galway Goes to the Pictures

This exibition looks at one hundred years of cinemas in Galway from the very first venue in 1911 to the proposed development of an arthouse cinema in 2011.

The people of Galway remember 'going to the pictures' and their stories are told through film, photographs, artefacts and a colourful display of cinema posters. Highlights include John Ford's Director's Chair used during the filming of The Quiet Man in 1952 and a Projector lightbox from the old Claddagh Palace cinema (1975-1995).

The art of film-making, the science of projection and the business of running the many cinema venues in Galway relied on people from all walks of life. As part of the People's History of Galway Project this cinema exhibition explores the role played by cinema in Galway's social life.

Visit Galway City Museum for more on Cinema, Galway goes to the pictures.