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Kylemore Abbey, County Galway
Photograph: Alvesgaspar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Province of Connacht

County Galway

Gaillimh

“GAL-yiv” · stony — the river Gaillimh, from gall (stone), usually read

Known as The Tribesmen. For the fourteen merchant families who ran the city for centuries: Blake, Joyce, Lynch, Bodkin and the rest. The name was originally an insult from Cromwellian forces, and the families took it up as a badge.

Did you know? The Claddagh, the old fishing village facing Galway city, elected its own king into the 20th century — his boat carried a white sail among the brown.
A fact like this for every county and every age →

Compare with another county → · Printable one-page summary →

Galway by the numbers
Connacht province 276,451 people · 2022 census 6,151 km² · 2nd of 32 by size County town Galway -27% in the Famine · 440,198 people in 1841, 321,000 in 1851 (approx.) 18 baronies · 4,474 townlands 1930s folklore · the Schools' Collection ↗ 2 Olympic medallists born here 81 surnames 8 towns on the site 13,507 daily Irish speakers Highest point Benbaun, 729 m 14 senior All-Irelands 20 notable people born here 1,963 historic buildings recorded Everything on the site about Galway ↓
Carlow Cavan Cork Donegal Dublin Clare Galway Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Longford Louth Mayo Meath Monaghan Offaly Roscommon Sligo Tipperary Waterford Westmeath Wexford Wicklow Antrim Armagh Down Fermanagh Londonderry Tyrone

Open the atlas ↗

The history of Galway

Shell middens show people in the Galway area by about 5000 BC. Before the county existed its land was several kingdoms — Aidhne, Uí Maine, Maigh Seóla, Conmhaicne Mara, Soghain and Máenmag — and Connemara still keeps its own identity, though nobody agrees where its borders run: somewhere between a fifth and a third of the county.

County Galway became an official entity around 1569. With Christianity came many monasteries, and their written records, law-tracts, genealogies and annals are where the county's early history comes from. It takes in inhabited islands, among them the Aran Islands and Inishbofin.

Drawn from the History section of the Wikipedia article on County Galway ↗, rewritten here and adding nothing it does not say; licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. The chronology above is this site's own; where the two differ, the article is the one to check.

The land — from Wikipedia

County Galway is home to Na Beanna Beola (Twelve Bens) mountain range, Na Sléibhte Mhám Toirc (the Maum Turk mountains), and the low mountains of Sliabh Echtghe (Slieve Aughty). The highest point in the county is one of the Twelve Bens, Benbaun, at 729m.

County Galway is partly home to a number of Ireland's largest lakes including Lough Corrib (the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland), Lough Derg and Lough Mask. The county is also home to a large number of smaller lakes, many of which are in the Connemara region. These include Lough Anaserd, Ardderry Lough, Aughrusbeg Lough, Ballycuirke Lough, Ballynahinch Lake, Lough Bofin, Lough Cutra, Derryclare Lough, Lough Fee, Glendollagh Lough, Lough Glenicmurrin, Lough Inagh, Kylemore Lough, Lettercraffroe Lough, Maumeen Lough, Lough Nafooey, Lough Rea, Ross Lake and Lough Shindilla.

Read the full article ↗ · Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Clans & surnames of Galway
Bermingham Mac Fheorais Norman · “from Birmingham, England” Blake de Bláca Norman · “le blac — 'the black-haired'” Bodkin Boidicín Norman · “a nickname from a short dagger” Broderick Ó Bruadair Gaelic sept · “descendant of Bruadar — from the Norse personal name Broddr” Burke de Búrca Norman dynasty · “from de Burgh — 'of the borough'” Cahill Ó Cathail Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cathal — cath, 'battle', with either 'rule' or 'great'” Canavan Ó Ceanndubháin Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Ceanndubhán, 'the dark-headed one'” Clarke Ó Cléirigh Gaelic learned family · “descendant of the cleric — possibly Europe's oldest surname (916 AD)” Concannon Ó Concheanainn Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cú Cheanainn, 'fair-headed hound'” Conneely Mac Conghaile / Ó Conghaile Gaelic sept · “son of Conghal — 'hound' and 'valour'” Connolly Ó Conghalaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Conghalach, 'valiant as a hound'” Conway Ó Connmhaigh Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Connmhach” Cooney Ó Cuana Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cuana” Costello Mac Oisdealbhaigh Norman-Gaelic · “son of Oisdealbh — the first Norman family to take a 'Mac'” Coyne Ó Cadhain Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cadhan — a personal name from the barnacle goose” Cunningham Ó Connagáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Connagán, a diminutive of Conn” Daly Ó Dálaigh Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Dálach, 'of the assembly'” Darcy Ó Dorchaidhe / d'Arcy Gaelic sept & Norman · “descendant of Dorchaidh, 'dark one' — or from Arcy in France” Deegan Ó Duibhginn Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Dubhcheann, ‘black head’” Diskin Ó Díscín Gaelic sept · “descendant of Díscín, a diminutive of díosc (apparently not a personal name)” Dolan Ó Dubhláin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dobhailen” Donnellan Ó Domhnalláin Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Domhnallán, a diminutive of Domhnall, 'world-ruler'” Downey Ó Duibheanaigh / Ó Maoldomhnaigh Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Duibheanach — or, for the second sept, 'devotee of the church'” Drennan Ó Draighneáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Draighneán, ‘blackthorn’” Duane Ó Dubháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dubhán, 'black'” Duggan Ó Dubhagáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dubhagán, 'the little dark one'” Egan Mac Aodhagáin Gaelic learned family · “son of little Aodh” Faherty Ó Fathartaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Fathartach” Fahy Ó Fathaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Fathadh, 'foundation / green field'” Fallon Ó Fallamhain Gaelic sept · “descendant of Fallamhan, 'leader'” Feeney Ó Fiannaidhe Gaelic sept · “descendant of Fiannaidhe, 'soldier'” Finn Ó Finn Gaelic sept · “descendant of Fionn, 'fair'” Finnegan Ó Fionnagáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Fionnagán, 'little fair one'” Finnerty Ó Fionnachta Gaelic sept · “descendant of Fionnachta, 'fair-snow'” Forde Mac Conshnámha / Mac Giolla na Naomh / Ó Fuaráin Gaelic septs (several) & English settlers · “three Irish names all mistranslated as 'ford': 'son of the swimming-hound' (Leitrim), 'son of the devotee of the saints' (Galway), 'descendant of Fuarthán, the cold one' (Cork)” French de Fréins Norman · “'the Frenchman'” Geraghty Mag Oireachtaigh Gaelic sept · “son of Oireachtach, 'member of an assembly'” Greaney Ó Gráinne Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gráinne — a woman's name” Hughes Mac Aodha / Ó hAodha Gaelic sept · “son (or descendant) of Aodh, 'fire'” Hynes Ó hEidhin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Eidhean, ‘ivy’” Jennings Mac Sheóinín Norman-Gaelic · “son of little John” Joyce Seoighe Norman-Welsh · “from Josse, a Breton saint's name” Keane Ó Catháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cathán, 'little battler'” Kelly Ó Ceallaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ceallach, 'bright-headed' or 'strife'” Kenny Ó Cionnaith Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cionnaith” Killeen Ó Cillín Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Cillín, a pet form of Ceallach” Kirwan Ó Ciardubháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ciardhubhán, 'the black-dark one'” Kissane Ó Casáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Casán — from cas, curly” Larkin Ó Lorcáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Lorcán, 'fierce'” Lennon Ó Leannáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Leannán, 'lover' or 'sweetheart'” Lydon Ó Lodáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Lodán” Lynch Ó Loingsigh / de Lench Gaelic sept & Norman tribe · “descendant of Loingseach, 'mariner'” Lyons Ó Laighin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Laighean, 'lance, spear'” Madden Ó Madáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Madán (from madadh, 'hound')” Mannion Ó Mainnín Gaelic sept · “descendant of Mainnín — perhaps the same as Mainchín” Martin Mac Giolla Mháirtín / Máirtín Gaelic sept & Norman tribe · “devotee of St Martin” McDonagh Mac Donnchadha Gaelic sept · “son of Donnchadh” Meehan Ó Miadhacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Miadhachán, 'the honourable'” Mitchell Mistéil Norse-Scots · “from Michael” Mooney Ó Maonaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Maonach” Moroney Ó Maolruanaidh Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Maolruanaidh, ‘follower of Ruanaidh’” Mullally Ó Maolalaidh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Maolaladh, 'speckled chief'” Mullan Ó Maoláin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Maolán, 'the tonsured one'” Naughton Ó Neachtain Gaelic sept · “descendant of Neachtan — an old name linked to water” Nealon Ó Nialláin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Niallán, 'little Niall'” Nevin Mac Cnáimhín Gaelic sept · “son of Cnáimhín — from cnámh, bone” O'Connell Ó Conaill Gaelic sept · “descendant of Conall — a name built from 'hound' and 'valour'” O'Flaherty Ó Flaithbheartaigh Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Flaithbheartach, 'bright ruler'” O'Grady Ó Gráda Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gráda, 'noble, illustrious'” O'Halloran Ó hAllmhuráin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Allmhurán, 'the stranger from over the sea'” O'Shaughnessy Ó Seachnasaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Seachnasach” Patterson Mac Páidín Scottish & English / Gaelic substitute · “son of Páidín, a pet form of Patrick” Raftery Ó Reachtabhra Gaelic sept · “descendant of Reachtabhra — 'law' and 'fringe'” Roddy Ó Rodaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Rodach, 'strong'” Ruane Ó Ruadháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ruadhán, a diminutive of ruadh, ‘red’” Seery Ó Saoraidhe Gaelic sept (from a Norse personal name) · “a later form of Ó Síoghradha, descendant of Síoghraidh, the Norse Sigefrith” Treacy Ó Treasaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Treasach, 'the fierce, the warlike'” Tully Mac an Tuile / Ó Maoltuile Gaelic learned family · “son of the flood — 'of God's will'” Tuohy Ó Tuathaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Tuathach, 'rustic' or 'lord'” Ward Mac an Bhaird Gaelic learned family · “son of the bard” Watters Mac Uaitéir / Ó hUisce / Ó Fuaruisce Gaelic septs & Ulster settlers · “'son of Walter' (Mac Uaitéir) — or, for the Gaelic septs, names built on 'uisce', water: 'descendant of the water' (Ó hUisce), 'cold water' (Ó Fuaruisce)”

Tap a name for its full page — story, homeland map and neighbours. Or see all surnames from County Galway, with the other counties each name is tied to.

Towns, saints and legends of Galway

Towns. Galway Gaillimh (85,910, 2022), Tuam Tuaim (9,647, 2022), Ballinasloe Béal Átha na Sluaighe (6,597, 2022), Loughrea Baile Locha Riach (6,322, 2022), Athenry Baile Átha an Rí (4,603, 2022), Gort Gort Inse Guaire (2,870, 2022), Portumna Port Omna (1,690, 2022), Clifden An Clochán. What every town name means →

Saints. St Enda of Aran (21 March), St Jarlath (6 June).

Legends set here. Hy-Brasil · Dún Aonghasa. On the atlas →

First names that belong here. Nóra, Iarlaith, Enda, Bairbre, Breasal, Murchadh.

Irish in Galway today

At the 2022 census, 121,930 people in Galway said they could speak Irish. 13,507 speak it every day outside school, and 9,182 weekly.

41 primary schools here teach entirely through Irish (2025/26, 5,045 pupils), and 11 secondary schools.

Galway's Gaeltacht had 36,687 people in 2022, 9,373 of them daily Irish speakers. The Gaeltacht in numbers →

CSO, Census 2022, table SAP2022T3T2CTY. Every county compared →

The top of Galway

Benbaun (An Bhinn Bhán), 729 metres, in the Twelve Bens.

National park: Connemara (1980). All the national parks →

Wrecks on its coast: MV Plassy (1960). Shipwrecks of Ireland →

Rivers and loughs: River Shannon, River Suck, River Clare, Lough Corrib, Lough Derg, Lough Mask.

MountainViews, via Wikipedia. Every county's highest point → · Rivers and loughs →

Galway in the All-Ireland

Hurling: 5 senior titles (1923, 1980, 1987, 1988, 2017); 21 finals lost.
Football: 9 senior titles (1925, 1934, 1938, 1956, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1998, 2001); 15 finals lost.

Every county's All-Ireland titles →

Born in Galway

From Wikidata: people whose recorded birthplace is in the county, who have a Wikipedia article and are no longer living, with dates shown only where the article confirms them, ordered by how many languages Wikipedia covers them in. Traditional birthplaces of early saints are as Wikidata records them. Dates are left off where the sources disagree.

People in Galway, census by census

Galway had 440,198 people in 1841 and has 276,451 now (-37%). Its peak was 440,198 in 1841; its low point 148,340 in 1966, -66% of 1841. It has never regained the population it had before the Famine.

1821183118411851186118711881189119011911192619361946195119561961196619711979198119861991199620022006201120162022
169,503204,691440,198321,684271,478248,458242,005214,712192,549182,224169,366168,198165,201160,204155,553149,887148,340149,223167,838172,018178,552180,364188,854209,077231,670250,541258,058276,451

Census returns as tabulated in the county's Wikipedia article. All 32 counties, 1821 to today →

Hidden Galway — the places the buses miss
  • Turoe Stone
    A granite boulder carved with swirling La Tène patterns around 100 BC — the finest Celtic art in stone in Ireland, probably an omphalos, a 'navel' stone.
  • Portumna Workhouse
    The best-preserved of the 163 workhouses: dormitories, the 'idiots' ward', the separate yard where families were split by rule the day they entered.
  • Knockdoe
    1504: the Great Earl of Kildare, with half of Ireland, against the Burkes with the other half — the largest battle Ireland had seen, over a private quarrel.
  • Aughrim
    12 July 1691: the bloodiest battle ever fought in Ireland — 7,000 dead in an afternoon after a cannonball took off the Jacobite general's head.
On the ground in Galway

Every pin is placed by its documented coordinates. All the monuments of Ireland →

Everything on the site about County Galway

The county

History

Monuments and heritage

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Quick answers
What is the Irish name for County Galway?

Gaillimh. Galway is one of the 5 counties of Connacht (Cúige Chonnacht).

Who ruled County Galway in the Middle Ages?

Around 1014 it was held by Kingdom of Connacht (O'Connor); by 1450, Clanricarde (Burke). The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.

What surnames come from County Galway?

Names historically associated with Galway include Bermingham, Blake, Bodkin, Broderick, Burke, Cahill, Canavan, Clarke, among others.

What does Gaillimh mean?

Gaillimh, said “GAL-yiv”, means stony — the river Gaillimh — from gall (stone), usually read. Named for the river, not the town; the legend of a drowned princess called Gaillimh is later.

What is the population of County Galway?

276,451 at the 2022 census, against 440,198 in 1841, before the Famine.

What is the county town of Galway?

Galway. County Galway covers about 6,151 km², which makes it the 2nd largest of the 32 counties.

Who are famous people from County Galway?

Among the best-known people born in Galway are Augusta, Lady Gregory, Richard Kirwan, Liam O'Flaherty, Robert O'Hara Burke, Máirtín Ó Cadhain, Éamonn Ceannt. The full list, with their birthplaces, is on this page.

What did the Famine do to County Galway?

The census counted 440,198 people in Galway in 1841 and 321,000 in 1851 (the 1851 figure is approximate): a change of -27% in ten years, through death and emigration.

Sources for this page

A clean copy for school projects or the family file; collapsed sections print in full.

The chronology of who held the county is this site's own reading of the standard histories onto today's county borders, and says so where the fit is rough. Quoted passages are marked and licensed. Spotted an error? Say so — corrections are credited.

Trace your ancestors in Galway

Free, from the holding institutions. How to begin: the six-step guide → · Spotted an error on this page? Suggest a correction.