Some Stories from Volume 51

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Councillor Paddy Ryan, Mayor of Galway and President John F. Kennedy

President John F. Kennedy – Galway 1963

William Henry
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Local History

On Saturday 29 June 1963, thousands of people converged on Galway City to welcome President John F. Kennedy, ‘one of our own’ as one man later said. It was part of a four-day tour of Ireland during which time he visited Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and of course, his family’s ancestral home in Wexford. His arrival in Ireland was long anticipated and he was jubilantly received by the Irish people. Special trains were running to Galway to accommodate the crowds ...

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The staff of Fahy Brothers while they were still based in Dominick Street

Fahy Brothers – Coach Builders

Tom Kenny
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Local History

Fahy Brothers started business in Dominick Street. They built sidecars, traps and horse-drawn coaches. As motor cars were introduced to the world and began to take over from horse-drawn vehicles, Fahys built the bodies for most of the motorised cars in Galway. The engines would arrive in crates by train and Fahys would build the bodies around them. They wished to: ‘direct the attention of the public to the splendid stock of new vehicles of all sorts now on view in their showrooms including Ralli Cars, Outside Cars, ...

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Gaol Bridge (now Salmon Weir Bridge) over the River Corrib, c. 1900. Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland

The Corrib: Myth, Legend & Folklore

Brendan McGowan
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Traditions

Lough Corrib is the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland. It separates the fertile limestone plains of east Galway from the lake-strewn bogs and rugged mountains of Connemara in the west. The lake is connected to Galway Bay by a short, yet powerful, body of water today known as the River Corrib. The sound of the river as it rushes towards the sea is, and always has been, the soundtrack to life in Galway. Since the first humans arrived on the island of Ireland, its seas, rivers, and lakes provided ...

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The Bank of Ireland, Eyre Square

Bank of Ireland – Galway City 1823

William Henry
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Local History

According to some sources the Bank of Ireland was established in Galway City ‘about 1823’ two hundred years ago. There were some earlier ‘private’ banks that played an important business role around Galway. These included, French, Joyce and Lynch. It has been said that the circumstances surrounding banking in the city in the early years paved the way for the Bank of Ireland. On 30 October 1802, Joyce’s Galway Bank was registered by Walter Joyce; and his junior partner, Mark Lynch. In 1807, Lynch resigned from the firm ...

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St Patrick’s Band circa 1906

St Patrick’s Band 100 Years Ago

Peter Rabbitt
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Local History

In July 1923, all of one hundred years ago, St Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band played to a large gathering in Galway City. Over five thousand people gathered in Eyre Square to attend an election rally. It was one of the largest crowds to be seen in Galway for many years. The tricolour flew from the stage, and buntings adorned the railings around the park. Ireland was finally at peace following the war of independence and civil war that had raged throughout the country over previous years. The Band was originally founded in 1896 and re-emerged once the Truce between England and Ireland was established in 1921 ...

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Billy Lally and Billy Mannion

Coal Delivery Story

William Henry
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Local History

The lads were always up for a bit of fun on their rounds. One Christmas back in the 1980s, Kevin Lally, Billy’s younger brother asked for a few weeks’ work for the busy festive season. Billy was quick to oblige and gave him a job as a helper on the truck. One day they arrived in Bowling Green and the lads told Kevin to deliver 6 bags of coal and 8 bales of briquettes to Nora in Number 8 while they kept busy with the rest of the deliveries. ‘She’s as deaf as a beetle’ they told him so be sure to give a good hard knock! Over went Kevin with the first bag and began knocking ...

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