The Spanish Arch 

10 min walk from the Periwinkle B&B (Bed and Breakfast accommodation Galway).

The Arch leads to the “long Walk” where in times past, Galway Gentry strolled. It got its name “The Spanish Arch” because of the frequent visits of Spanish ships that came to trade in Galway.     The Spanish Arch consists of two arches. One was known as the Blind Arch.  

At the front of the Arch is the historic Fish market area, adjoining Spanish Parade. Here the Claddagh women folk came to sell the catches of fish caught by the Claddagh fishing fleet. A wooden sculpture by Claire Sheridan who lived in the adjacent building during the 50s now adorns the Arch.

Beside the Spanish Arch is now the City Museum which houses a cross section of Material relating to live in Galway over the centuries. The Claddagh (an Irish word meaning strand) is located directly across on the west bank of the river, and it was a fishing village where the people spoke Irish and dressed in traditional costume and lived their lives apart from the
city of Galway. They socialised and married people from other Gaeltacht ereas. The old houses were knocked down and rebuilt in 1934 but the same families are living there for generations although now they have lost the old traditional ways and all speak English. Sometimes they married Spanish sailors so there are many families there with raven black hair and beautiful brown eyes!

Columbus Sculpture

 The Columbus Sculpture at the other end of the Spanish Parade resembles  a seabird and was presented to the city of Galway by the city of Genoa, the birthplace of Columbus on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America 1992). It also commemorates Columbus’s stay in Galway in 1477. It is believed that during his stay Columbus prayed in the Church of St Nicholas.

Museum opens 7 days in summer, 3 days in winter, 11.M- 5PM CLOSED 1-2PM) ADMISSION €2.00 STUDENTS €1.0