Museums and Attractions

Situated behind the famous Spanish Arch, Galway City Museum houses exhibitions which explore aspects of the history and heritage of Galway City.

Current exhibitions include: Routes to the Past (Prehistoric Galway); Galway Within the Walls (Medieval Galway); Pádraic Ó Conaire: the Man and the Statue; Lamb in Connemara (Paintings by Charles Lamb); Dance Hall Days; Cinema, Galway goes to the Pictures; the Arts in Galway; and Galway & the Wars of Empire.

Among the Museum highlights are the Galway Civic Sword and Great Mace. The Civic Sword dates from the Charter of King James I in 1610, which granted authority for the carrying of such a weapon before the Mayor. The Great Mace, a massive piece of ornamental silverwork crafted in Dublin in 1710, was presented to the town by Edward Eyre, Mayor of Galway, in 1712. The Museum is also home to two iconic symbols of the city – the statue of Padraic Ó Conaire and a traditional sailing vessel or Galway Hooker, named ‘Máirtín Oliver’, which was made especially for the Museum.

The building itself affords spectacular views of the Claddagh, the Spanish Arch, River Corrib and Galway Bay. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am until 5pm and admission is FREE.