Galway

:This article is about the city in Ireland. For other uses of the name, see Galway (disambiguation).

History

Dún Bhun na Gaillimhe ("Fort at the Mouth (bottom) of the Gaillimh") was constructed in 1124, by the King of Connacht Tairrdhelbach mac Ruaidhrí Ua Conchobhair. A small settlement eventually grew up around this fort. During the Anglo-Norman invasion of Connacht in the 1200's Galway fort was capturted by the de Burgos (Burkes) the family who had led this invasion. As the de Burgos eventually became gaelicised the merchants of the town pushed for greater control over the walled city. This led to them gaining complete control over the city and the granting of mayorial status by the English crown in the mid 1400s. Galway remained loyal to the crown during the Gaelic resurgence although during the mid 1600s the city allied itself with the Catholic Conferderation of Kilkenny and later with the Jabobites at the end of the 17th century. Galway endured difficult relations with its Irish neighbours. A notice over the west gate of the city, built by 1562, read "From the Ferocious O'Flahertys may God protect us". A bye-law forbade the native Irish (as opposed to Galway's Anglo-Irish citizens) from Galway, saying "neither O' nor Mac shall strutte nor swagger through the streets of Galway". During the middle ages, Galway was ruled by an oligarchy of fourteen{{Fn|1}} Anglo-Norman families, the 'tribes' of Galway. The city thrived on international trade. In the middle ages, it was the principal Irish port for trade with Spain and France. There is a legend of uncertain truth which claims that Christopher Columbus, on a trip to Iceland or the Faroe Isles, found signs of land beyond the Atlantic Ocean in or near Galway in 1477.{{fn|2}}

Related Topics:
Anglo-Norman - Walled city - 1562 - O'Flaherty - Anglo-Irish - Middle ages - Spain - France - Christopher Columbus - Iceland - Faroe Isles - Atlantic Ocean

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Galway was on the losing side in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms (it supported King Charles II of England against Parliament), and fell under siege during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. It picked the losing side again in the War of the Two Kings (it supported King James II of England against William of Orange). The great families of Galway were ruined, the city declined, and it did not fully recover until the great economic boom of the late twentieth century.

Related Topics:
Wars of the Three Kingdoms - King Charles II of England - Cromwellian conquest of Ireland - James II of England - William of Orange

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