26/09/2024
The Times they are a changing...
A view of Long Walk, Galway, Ireland, from 1900-2020
The Long Walk has been a prominent Galway City landmark for many years.
In fact, it’s arguably one of the more notable landmarks in Ireland, appearing on endless postcards and tourism adverts.
You’ll find The Long Walk a 5-minute stroll from the Latin Quarter, just past Galway City Museum and the Spanish Arch where it overlooks the River Corrib. Across the water, you’ll see Nimmos Pier, while behind the iconic houses lies Galway Dock.
If you’re arriving in Galway City by boat, the Long Walk is one of the first things you’ll see. But even if you’re driving or flying in, there’s a big chance you’ve seen the walk. It’s appeared in countless music videos, adverts for Galway, and much more. As such, it’s a popular place for tourists looking to grab a photo of one of Galway City’s most well-known streets.
Long in name but not in nature, the walk is actually only about 314 metres long in total. You’ll be able to walk its length in two minutes, though it’ll probably take much longer if you’re taking photos! Anyone can enjoy the walk, with decent access to wheelchairs and buggies.
The Long Walk is a magnet for tourists and photographers looking to capture the vibrant colours and quirky nature of the street.
With its postcard-perfect aesthetic, bright shades, and waterfront location, complete with swans, it’s easy to see why. But there’s more to the Long Walk than its pretty face.
The Long Walk was originally built in the 18th-century by the Eyre family. Its original purpose was to extend the quays and act as a breakwater to construct a mud berth.
Parts of the original walk, which featured a number of archways leading into town, were destroyed in 1755 by a tsunami caused by an earthquake in Lisbon.
The iconic houses mostly belonged to local artisans, one of whom was a ropemaker.
For a time, the area was known as the Rope Walk, due to the fact that this merchant would lay his ropes out along the length of the Long Walk.
It wasn’t always the most desirable part of town, and in the early 1900s it was poorly lit, roughly surfaced, with barred windows, and hens roaming the streets. Many of the houses were tenements, filled to bursting.
The street has also borne witness to many crimes and murders, with the river providing a quick and easy way to dispose of bodies and evidence.
Most notably in October 1920, the Sinn Féin councillor and businessman Michael Walsh was dragged from his home, the Old Malt House, on the High Street, and brought to the Long Walk.
Here, he was shot and his body thrown into the river. A plaque on one of the houses (number 29) marks the spot and serves as a memorial.
Fortunately, those days are now long gone, and the area is much safer and more welcoming than ever before. However, knowing its past gives you something to ponder as you walk the street and enjoy the sights.
Words with thanks to www.theirishroadtrip.com
