Medieval Galway Tour

5 min

The Browne Doorway is a freestanding door in Eyre Square. The door comes from a house that was originally located on Lower Abbeygate Street and the house was owned by Martin Browne, a very important merchant.

5 min

Hidden in Eyre Square Shopping Centre are the remains of the city walls. Walls were a common feature of towns during the medieval period and they were a defensive feature. Visitors will hear how the walls were important to the people of Galway.

5 min

Lynch's Castle is connected to the Lynch family who were one of the 14 Tribes and a very powerful family. Today the building is AIB bank and the oldest commercial building in Ireland.

5 min

Galway is known as the City of the Tribes. The Tribes were 14 families who controlled Galway during the medieval period. Hear about the Mayor of Galway, who hung his own son in the 1400s.

10 min

St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church has been at the heart of Galway city for over 700 years. Visitors will hear about Jane Eyre and James Kearney, and how Cromwell's soldiers used the church as a stables. There is a fee to enter the church, which isn't included in the price of the tour. The fee goes towards the maintenance of the church. It is up to the visitor if they would like to go in or not.

5 min

The King's Head pub is a popular spot in Galway city but the building has a connection to the beheading of King Charles I of England.

10 min

Explore Thomas Dillon's Jewellers on Quay Street. They are the original makers of the famous Claddagh ring since 1750. Hear the story surrounding this well-known ring.

10 min

The Hall of the Red Earl is a significant archaeological site and run by Galway Civic Trust. It was discovered in the late 1990s and all that can be seen are the foundations, with the remains of the walls, columns and buttresses. Visitors can walk down into site to get a closer look.

5 min

Galway had 14 lanes and and alleyways during the medieval period. Kirwan's Lane is one of 5 lanes still in existence and named after the Kirwan family who were one of the 14 Tribes. There are still remnants of medieval Galway on Kirwan's Lane with some of the buildings.

5 min

Blake's Castle at the end of Quay of Street was owned by the Blake family, one of the 14 Tribes. At one point the castle was the county gaol. Visitors will hear a little of what life was like for the criminals in the jail. The castle fell into ruin but was restored around the 1980s.

5 min

The Spanish Arch is one of Galway's most iconic attractions. It was built as an extension of the city walls and protected the boats that were moored in the harbour. Visitors will hear about the Claddagh across the river and the tsunami that destroyed two of the arches.