The Eglinton Canal

In 1498, during the mayoralty of Andrew Lynch, an attempt was made to open a passage from the River Corrib along the Sandy River and through land to Lough Atalia, thus connecting the river to the sea.

The idea of a canal was mooted by the distinguished engineer Alexander Nimmo in 1822. The advantages were obvious, if steam boats could travel from Galway Docks up to the Corrib, the commercial importance of the city would be increased and a valuable communication with the hinterland would be established. An extension of the service was envisaged and indeed embarked on with a canal bed dug linking Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, but this project was never completed. As the old saying goes, “It would not hold water”. An even further scheme linking Lough Mask and Lough Carra never got beyond the drawing board.

Galway’s rich heritage

This photograph of the interior of St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church was originally taken c1890 and was given us by the National Library. The Leper’s Gallery can be seen over the arches to the left.

The church was originally built in 1320, a cruciform building without aisles. It was dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra, patron saint of mariners. The site selected was long conservated to religion, a church having existed there for a long time, subject to the Cistercian Abbey of Knockmoy.

The Dunne brothers busking in Galway

Busking is the practice of performing in public places for tips or gratuities. The earliest buskers in Galway were probably singers who would sing on the street, and then knock on doors in the hope of getting money or food. In the early 20th century, Johnny Doran and his family would move around playing in different places, including the races, and then in the evening outside the Imperial Hotel. Paddy Philbin, who later became a dancing master, would dance for him and they drew big crowds. Later came the Reaney brothers who played in various locations in Galway city and county.

Many families going to the races would place themselves at The Móinín with their flasks and sandwiches. Musicians often wandered playing in their midst and hopefully collecting.

More Old Galway

• The Eglinton Canal
• The Dunne brothers busking in Galway
• Fifty years of soccer in Mervue
• The egg and butter market, Woodquay
• Some Galway fires
• The Galway sessions
• In the end the Mayos didn’t say much
• The Queen’s Gap
• Further adventures of our Dan
• A Saunders still lives in Woodford area
• Claddagh fishermen
• Galway hurlers, 1949
• Sheep fair, Eyre Square
• Steam Wharf, Galway, c1850
• Queen’s College Galway
• Cross country champions from Móinín na gCíseach
• The Castle Hotel
• A Galway Textile Printers XV
• The Claddagh market
• A corner of William Street, c1920
• Galway Gaol, April 1958
• Some memories of a Galwegian
• The village of Salthill in the 1920s
• Joseph Phillips, Connaught Ranger
• Fitzgibbon Cup winners, 1970
• The Shambles Barracks, 1910
• Galway supporters at the 1966 final
• Scholars from St Brendan's, 1956
• Prospect Hill en fete in the 1960s
• Distorted views of the Claddagh in the 19th century