A VIEW FROM THE REAR OF THE SPANISH ARCH

by Tom Kenny

The Spanish Arch was not part of the original city walls but was built in 1584 as a measure to protect the city’s quays. It was originally known as Ceann an Bhalla or The Head of the Wall, a fortification that extended from Martin’s Tower to the river. Then in the 18^th century, the Eyre family built Long Walk as an extension of the quays and a breakwater to construct a mud berth. A number of arches were constructed to allow access from the town to the new quay but unfortunately, an earthquake that occurred in Lisbon in 1755 resulted in a tsunami that destroyed some of these arches. In olden times, ships would have moored here unloading their cargo of Spanish wines and foodstuffs such as olive oil, spices, tea, coffee and cocoa. Later, these ships would have been replaced by Aran fishing boats unloading and selling their wares.

The building we see to the right of the arch was owned by Reaneys. There was originally a gaslight on the street in front of it. This building was levelled in the 1970’s to expose a cobbled yard and what is probably the most impressive section of medieval walling in the country. This fine stretch of wall, with its massively corbelled upper portion and ending in a machicoulis after about 25 metres, dates from 1584, the same as the arch. To the right, out of picture were two houses that were occupied by Flahertys and Gannons.

The buildings on the left were once two-storey houses that appeared on the 1651 map of Galway. According to Griffith’s Valuations which was published c.1855, these houses were occupied by Dennis Quinn, Patrick Commons and Michael Derrane, all of whom kept lodgers. By the time this photograph was taken, c.1900, these houses had been reduced to ground floor level. At one point these ‘sheds’ were owned by Peter Greene. In more recent times, a number of businesses occupied them.

Talbot’s butchers had a sausage manufactory for a time in the section nearest the camera. Farrell’s Garage opened here in 1962 and stayed until 1985 when they moved to Sickeen. A Mr. Mullins who worked for the Corporation had a workshop here. He worked there at night welding and making gates etc. There was a motorbike repair shop here for a while.  Eventually, Alec and Leonie Finn bought the building which they converted into a restaurant named the Blue Raincoat which was run for a time by Séamus and Kevin Sheridan. They closed it in 1991 and it was taken over by Harriet Leander who changed the name to Nimmo’s and it has been one of Galway’s favourite eating houses since.

All of the foliage we see on the arch is now gone. The tall chimney you can see behind the bushed is part of what is known as Comerford House today.