Join us in Galway city centre on Bank Holiday Monday, May 4, for a free walking tour of the city which explores the bloody history of Galway during the War of Independence.

The walking tour is free of charge, but you must register at the link below!

Local historian and tour guide Jim Ward will focus on atrocities which occurred in 1920 when the feared Black and Tans patrolled the city.

Starting in Eyre Square, Jim will take us on a tour of sites associated with Ireland’s fight for freedom and, in particular, events in Galway which included the killing of young priest Fr Michael Griffin by British forces and a shootout at the railway station in which Sean Mulvoy and Seamus Quirke were killed.

Both men have roads named after them in Galway City, but not everyone is aware of the painful history of what occurred in the city during the War of Independence and the bloody year of 1920 in particular. It is estimated that 54 people were killed in Galway in the 12 months between July 1920 and July 1921.

He recalls that the Royal Irish Constabulary reacted violently following the killing of a police constable at Merlin Park.

And his tour includes a visit to the site by the banks of the River Corrib where the Black and Tans murdered city businessman and Sinn Féin councillor Michael Walsh.

Jim has a fascinating knowledge of a bloody period in Galway’s history and is looking forward to providing a guided tour ‘as Gaeilge’ to people from Gaeltacht an Eachreidh.

The Salthill native is an experienced Fáilte Ireland tour guide and previously brought us on two fascinating walking tours of the city in 2023 and 2024. But this is a new tour, reflecting his keen interest in Irish revolutionary history.

The tour is free of charge, but you must register on our Eventbrite page (see the link) to secure a place as numbers are strictly limited.

Join us for a stroll through Galway’s fascinating history on Bank Holiday Monday for a tour which will last between 90 minutes to two hours.

Afterwards we will adjourn to McGinn’s Hop House in Woodquay for some ‘finger food’ and conversation ‘as Gaeilge’. You don’t have to be a fluent Irish speaker to join this tour, but some level of Irish is required.

Register here. It’s free and it only takes seconds!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/turas-reabhloideach-gaillimhe-tickets-1987330329513