Running until June 3, this collection of more than 40 photographs captures Galway city and its people in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The images feature the city's streets, markets, shops, workers and everyday life, curated by Tom Kenny, author of ‘Old Galway’. Eyre Square, the railway station, JFK's visit, the old barracks and various shop fronts are just some of what is included.
The images were sourced from Tom's own collection, institutional archives and through personal contributions from Galwegians.
"The photographs transcend mere nostalgia, serving as vital records of Galway’s social fabric. They are key artefacts not just of our past, but for Galway’s future generations," says Tom.
Following his previous Old Galway photo exhibition in 2023, Tom’s new collection is dedicated to the memory of Ronnie O'Gorman, his late collaborator who founded the Galway Advertiser. Tom has been writing a weekly Old Galway column in the paper for over 50 years, and first gave Ronnie pictures to publish in the newspaper in 1974.
In addition to the exhibition, Volume 1 of The Old Galway Diary has just been reprinted and is now available at Kennys, and online from www.kennys.ie, along with Volume 2. These books by Tom and Ronnie document fascinating stories and the history of Galway city, alongside selections of their photographs.
Kennys would like to thank Galway City Council for funding this exhibition.
