Guinness in the Claddagh Basin

Galway Advertiser, November 12, 1998

This photograph of the Claddagh Basin was taken about 1880 and shows Sir Arthur Guinness' steamer yacht The Lady Olive moored in the foreground.

Apart from the Fisheries Tower, which is currently being renovated, the entire background has changed. While some of the trees you can see on the left still remain, most have been replaced by apartment blocks, in the distance, to the right of the tower, you can see the Shambles barracks. Today you'll see apartments.

The main feature in the background is Burke's Distillery, and this photograph gives us an idea of just how big an industry it was. They would have been one of the biggest employers in Galway. Their entire operation was powered by the water system and the mill races. The original Wolfe Tone Bridge was in place then. It was a very narrow and rickety affair, but it was very important to the Claddagh women in opening up the Fishmarket to them. The bridge made it much easier to. carry their produce across the river to sell to the citizens of Galway.

There seems to have been a new white building constructed in front of Blake's Castle. Conroy's Halls are visible in Quay, Street, and opposite them, a high ware house.

The yacht in the foreground was probably on its way up to Lough Corrib via the Eglington Canal. The bridge we see on the left could, be opened, and boats could travel up via a lock system, and another swivel bridge which crossed the canal at University Road. There was a great deal of commercial traffic on the canal at the time.

Our thanks to the National Library for today's photograph.