Galway, << GAWL way >> (pop. 84,414), is a port city on the west coast of Ireland. It ranks as the country’s fourth largest city. Only Dublin, Cork, and Limerick are larger.
Galway serves as the administrative and commercial center for much of western Ireland. Factories in the city make clothing, food products, and electronic and electrical equipment. Tourism contributes to the economy. Salthill, a suburb of Galway, is a popular seaside resort. St. Nicholas Church in Galway dates from 1320. National University of Ireland, Galway, founded in 1845, is also in the city.
Anglo-Normans founded Galway in the 1200’s. The town was chartered as a free port in 1484, and 14 merchant families, or tribes, controlled the town. Thus, Galway is sometimes called the city of the tribes. Ireland’s potato famine from 1845 to 1850 caused much hardship in Galway. The city expanded greatly during the 1900’s. An industrial area and many large residential areas were built.
