History of Galway History of Galway Galway, one of the largest cities in Ireland, situated on the west coast of Ireland, has a complex history going back around 800 years. The city was the only medieval city in the province of Connacht. The city takes its name from that of the river, the "Gaillimh". The word "Gaillimh" means ""stony"" as in ""stony river"". Today, the river is commonly called the River Corrib, after Lough Corrib, just to the north. In Irish, Galway is also called "Cathair na Gaillimhe" ("city of Galway") which is a modern creation to prevent confusion with "Contae na Gaillimhe"
Menlo, County Galway the People of Ireland", Foster visits Menlo in mid-October of 1845 (on the eve of the Great Famine) and describes it as an ideal example of an Irish rundale village: "It contains about two thousand inhabitants, and their chief subsistence is derived from supplying Galway [City] with milk. The inhabitants keep great numbers of cows, which they feed principally on grains bought in Galway" (292-3). Foster continues: "The way through the village is the most crooked, as well as the most narrow and dirty lane that can be conceived. There is no row of houses, or anything approaching to a