Galway History Dún Bhun na Gaillimhe (Fort at the Mouth (bottom) of the Gaillimh) was constructed in 1124, by the King of Connacht, Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair (1088–1156). Eventually, a small settlement grew up around this fort. During the Norman invasion of Connacht in the 1230s, Galway fort was captured by Richard Mor de Burgh, who had led the invasion. As the de Burghs eventually became Gallicized, the merchants of the town, the Tribes of Galway, pushed for greater control over the walled city. This led to their gaining complete control over the city and to the granting of mayoral status by the English crown in December 1484. Galway endured difficult relations with its Irish neighbors. A notice over the west gate of the city, completed in 1562 by Mayor Thomas Óge Martyn, stated From the Ferocious OFlahertys may God protect us. A by-law forbade the native Irish (as opposed to Galways Hiberno-Norman citizens) unrestricted access into Galway, saying neither O’ nor Mac shall strutte nor swagger through the streets of Galway without permission. During the Middle Ages, Galway was ruled by an oligarchy of fourteen merchant families (12 of Norman origin and 2 of Irish origin). These were the The Tribes of Galway. The city thrived on international trade, and in the Middle Ages, it was the principal Irish port for trade with Spain and France. The most famous reminder of those days is ceann an bhalla (the end of the wall), now known as the Spanish Arch, constructed during the mayoralty of Wylliam Martin (1519–20). In 1477 Christopher Columbus visited Galway, possibly stopping off on a voyage to Iceland or the Faroe Islands. Seven or eight years later, he noted in the margin of his copy of Imago Mundi: Men of Cathay have come from the west. [Of this] we have seen many signs. And especially in Galway in Ireland, a man and a woman, of extraordinary appearance, have come to land on two tree trunks or timbers? or a boat made of such? The most likely explanation for these bodies is that they were Inuit swept eastward by the North Atlantic Current. Source: Wikipedia Photo: Galway CoA via Autor of SVG file Ivangricenko; Galway Spaninsh Arch via Ramón - originally posted to Flickr as Galway Spaninsh Arch; Galway Cathedral, Galway, Ireland via dangerous-business
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 14:06:02 +0000
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