The first motor car was imported into Ireland in 1896. The early ones were steam-powered and badly suited to Ireland’s climate and roads. There was no surface on the roads, lots of potholes left by horses and animals, and of course pedestrians who were unfamiliar with motor cars. Some thought they were parts of trains that had broken off, noisy and smelly vehicles driven by faceless people – drivers wore goggles and head coverings to keep smoke from the engines and road dust from irritating their eyes and nose. Others thought they were the devil’s work and would bless themselves and say a prayer as these cars went by.
The registration of motor vehicles in Galway began in 1904 and our county was identified by the letters IM. It is interesting that the first ten IM numbers were all given to motorbikes, in fact of the first 151 vehicles registered in the county, 62 were cars and 89 were motorcycles. The first registered car was IM 11 and it was owned by Isaac Bell from The Kennels, Craughwell.
Our first image today (A ) was taken in 1904 outside the City of Galway Cycle Depot in Lower Dominick Street, owned by Edmund Hill who was a general merchant and bicycle salesman and fixer. He bought the car in London and drove it to Holyhead, a journey that took 36 days, crossed the Irish Sea and then drove to Galway causing huge excitement on the streets. The image is dated 1904, so this was one of the very first cars registered in Galway, the registration number was IM 19. It is difficult to identify the model of car but it may have been a Delahaye, a Daimler or a Panhard Et Levassor of the mid 1890s. The driver was probably Mr Hill and we can see a number of his staff in the background.
Our second photograph (B ) shows the first ever steam-powered car to appear in Galway, a Stanley which was manufactured in the USA about 1904 with the registration IM 37. The steering was done by a tiller which operated from the main seat – the back one. The fire, usually of charcoal or timber, was situated under the front seat, as was the boiler. The engine was slung underneath, working in an oil bath and generally direct to the back axle. The timber wheels were made of hickory. The car was owned by Mr Hodgson of Currerevagh near Oughterard who is pictured with some of his family. Top speed was about 15 mph. There were no roads as such, often two ruts running parallel, so if one met another car it created difficulties as it was hard to get those timber wheels out of one of those ruts.
Our third image (C ) is of two cars, a Humber with the registration number IM 131 which was owned by Edward Martyn from Tulira is on the right. He is the man standing in the car wearing a hat. His driver is behind the wheel. The other car is possibly a Panhard Et Levassor, registration number IK 696, a Dublin reg. I don’t know where the photograph was taken but it seems it was at a gathering of Gaeilgeóirí. Maybe someone will recognise the gentleman in the kilt. The picture dates from the early 1900s.
Our thanks to Dick Byrne for his help with the above.
