The earliest inhabitants of the county, the hunter-gatherers of the Middle Stone (Mesolithic) Age, have left slight traces because of the simple nature of their dwellings and lifestyle but a kitchen midden of shells at Gentian Hill, past Salthill, shows their presence. It was probably the proximity to fresh water, to freshwater fish, and to the sea that attracted these people. The area was also covered by dense forest.
Later, the settlers of the Neolithic also came and cleared away portions of the forest to begin the first farms in the region. These people left artifacts such as stone axes and dugout canoes found in the Corrib by underwater archaeologists. The region then saw the coming of the Bronze Age and Iron Age people. Artifacts of these eras have also been found in the Corrib - mainly some swords of both metal types.
From the early Christian era written accounts of the Galway region begin to appear. It is recorded that there was a fishing village at the mouth of the river, where St. Enda, the saint of Aran, bought fish from a boy. A Christian monastery was located farther up Galway Bay, at Roscam, where the butt of its Round Tower and the remains of the monastic enclosure may still be seen. The monastery was plundered by the Vikings in the 9th century as their longships passed up the river to attack other monasteries on the islands in Lough Corrib.
Around Roscam, there was probably a settlement of craftsmen and workers to service the monastery. There may have been a trading post at the mouth of the Corrib where merchants could come to exchange goods, probably beaching their ships on the foreshore, and meeting traders from the interior. Metals goods from Europe could have been bartered for hides and leather.
Internecine strife in Ireland in the 11th and 12th centuries forced the local King to do something about the defense of the region. Turlough O'Connor, King of Connacht, was the most powerful man in Ireland and was recognised as High-King. In order to prevent incursions from Munster, he had a 'dun' or fort built at the mouth of the river, called by the annalists Dun Bhun na Ghaillimhe, the 'Fort at the Mouth of the Galway'. The river was called 'Galway' at that time, probably from 'gaill aimh', meaning 'stony riverbed'. The name is appropriate as the stony river-bed of the Corrib can still be seen at low tides.
Galway City, County Galway
Galway City is known as the City of Tribes. It is a very old settlement, indicated on some of Ptolemy's maps from almost 2000 years ago. It was built up by Anglo-Normans in the 13th century.
It is renowned for its music and pubs with vibrant nightlife and upbeat atmosphere. Just outside the city lies Salthill, a traditional destination for Irish families, with its 3 mile long promenade. Salthill is full of holiday water activities from swimming, diving, sailing, jet-skiing to the nightlife activities of music, pubs, dancing and amusements.
Galway is also famous for its festivals, in particular the Arts Festival and the many Oyster Festivals in the City and villages along the coast.
The Fourteen Tribes of Galway
Galway is known to this day as The City of the Tribes, though it has been more than three hundred and fifty years since the control of those illustrious merchant families was irrecoverably smashed by the armies of Cromwell.
The story of the Tribes begins with the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland during the late 12th century. Among the invaders were those of the powerful de-Burgo family. The de-Burgos took a keen interest in the province of Connaught (Connacht), and with the consent of Henry II of England they wrestled the land from the natives. On the wings of the de-Burgo's claim, many families of Norman descent swept into the area.
In a short time, fourteen of these families distinguishing themselves as merchants. As recorded in Hardiman's History of Galway, those families bore the following surnames: Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D'Arcy, Deane, Ffont, Ffrench, Joyes, Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris and Skerrett.
Profiting from one of the best seaports in Western Europe, the families accumulated such immense wealth and fame that they claimed complete control over civic affairs. In 1484, Richard III granted the families a charter to rule without the interference of the de-Burgos, who were prone to frequent revolts against the crown. The treaty also gave the families control over the ecclesiastic affairs of the city. Thus, the merchants had supreme and unfaltering control of Galway for nearly the next two hundred years.
The Tribes were a highly distinctive group. They thought of themselves as English nobility and were intensely loyal to the crown. This would later prove problematic because of their allegiance to the Catholic Church as well. Their claims to nobility led them into utter exclusivity, and they refused to marry outside of their tight-knit group.
Despite their closely woven and independent nature, visitors were often in awe of the remarkable character of Galway's inhabitants. As recounted in Hardiman's History, visitors described the Galwegians to be kind to strangers, hospitable and of a great public spirit – this, in addition to their uncommonly refined manner of living.
Partly because of their genuine loyalty to the crown, and partly due to England's distraction with the Wars of the Roses, Galway experienced many years of near autonomy – recalling the splendour of the ancient Greek city-states. Flourishing trade with Spain and the West Indies resulted in Galway being recognised as one of the finest cities in the West. Indeed, it is said that a traveler, in the time of Galway's finest hour, once asked a native where in Galway Ireland might preside. Nevertheless, all ages must pass, and the rise and fall of the Stuarts in England would signal Galway's fall from grace.
Because of their royalist tendencies, the Tribes of Galway opposed the removal of Charles I from the throne. The Tribes proclivity to take the opposing side in these matters eventually led to Cromwell taking the city. Caught in a difficult situation, the merchant families would neither defend the city from Cromwell, nor would they join the onslaught, this led to Cromwell's forces famously assigning them the derogatory name 'Tribes of Galway', which was later adopted by the merchants in defiance. After the city's fall the merchants were deprived of their property and their right to govern. With the Restoration they briefly regained hope of retrieving their lost glory, only to meet a sour disappointment with William and Mary ascending the throne shortly after.
While the Tribes of Galway never regained the grandeur they once had, they went onward, having influence in the city as late as the 19th century. But what remains so utterly remarkable, is that Galway is still 'The City of the Tribes' in many ways. It would not be as it is, if it were not for them. The 14 merchant families of Galway forged the city as we know it.
Oranmore Castle, Co.Galway
Oranmore Castle was built sometime round the fifteenth century possibly on the site of an older castle. It was a stronghold of the Clanricardes who were a prominent norman family of Galway. In 1641 Galway was under the overlordship of the Marquess and fifth Earl Clanricarde. In March 1642 the town revolted and joined the Confederates with the Fort (St Augustin's) still holding out. Clanricarde placed a strong garrison in Orannmore castle, from which he provisioned the Fort of Galway from the sea until 1643 when Captain Willoughby Governor of Galway surrendered both fort and castle without the Marquess's consent. In 1651 the castle surrendered to the Parliamentary forces.
All the Marquess's property was of course forfeited but his successor, the 6th Earl, got back most of it including the castle. In 1666 he leased the castle to Walter Athy. Mary, Walter's daughter married secondly Walter Blake of Drumacrina Co Mayo, and her descendants by that marriage, held Oranmore until 1853, when the estates of Walter Blake were sold to the Encumbered Estates Court.
The Blake family built the house against the south side of the castle. This house was left in ruins when the Blake family left Oranmore and the castle was unroofed until 1947 when it was bought by Lady Leslie, a cousin of Churchill and wife of Sir Shane Leslie the writer.
Lady Leslie reroofed the castle and gave it to her daughter, Mrs Leslie King who is aiso well known as a writer under the name of Anita Leslie. Between 1950 and 1960, Mrs Leslie King and her husband, Cmdr Bill King (also a writer who sailed solo around the world in 1933) added a two storey wing joined to the castle by a single storey range. The castle is now occupied by Leonie King, daughter of Anita Leslie and Bill King.
