Editing County Galway

{{short description|County in Ireland}}
{{redirect|Galway County|the historic UK Parliament constituency|Galway County (UK Parliament constituency)}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = County Galway
| native_name              = {{Native name|ga|Contae na Gaillimhe|paren=omit}}
| settlement_type          = [[Counties of Ireland|County]]
| image_shield             = Logogalwayco.png
| nickname                 = The [[Tribes of Galway|Tribesmen]]
| motto                    = {{langx|ga|Ceart agus Cóir}}
| anthem                   = {{center|[[The Fields of Athenry]]}}({{smaller|unofficial}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dochara.com/the-irish/sport-the-irish/gaa-county-colours/|title=The GAA and the All Ireland Championship|work=Dochara|date=30 December 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104442/http://www.dochara.com/the-irish/sport-the-irish/gaa-county-colours/|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| image_map                = Island of Ireland location map Galway.svg
| map_caption              = Location in Ireland
| area_footnotes           = <ref name=WDC>{{cite web | title = County Profiles – Galway | url = https://westerndevelopment.ie/policy/our-region/galway-county-analysis/ | publisher = Western Development Commission | access-date = 2 June 2021 | archive-date = 2 June 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213650/https://westerndevelopment.ie/policy/our-region/galway-county-analysis/ | url-status = live }}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 6151
| area_rank                = [[List of Irish counties by area|2nd]]
| seat_type                = [[County town]]
| seat                     = [[Galway]]
| population_total         = 276451
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_rank          = [[List of Irish counties by population|5th]]
| population_as_of         = 2022
| population_footnotes     = <ref name=cso2022>{{cite web |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpr/censusofpopulation2022-preliminaryresults/geographicchanges/ |title=Census of Population 2022 – Preliminary Results |date=23 June 2022 |publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)]] |access-date=22 May 2023}}</ref>
| leader_title             = [[Local government in the Republic of Ireland|Local authorities]]
| leader_name              = [[Galway County Council|County Council]] and [[Galway City Council|City Council]]
| leader_title2            = [[Dáil constituency]]
| leader_name2             = {{ubl|[[Galway East (Dáil constituency)|Galway East]]|[[Galway West (Dáil constituency)|Galway West]]|[[Roscommon–Galway (Dáil constituency)|Roscommon-Galway]]}}
| leader_title3            = [[European Parliament constituencies in the Republic of Ireland|EP constituency]]
| leader_name3             = [[Midlands–North-West (European Parliament constituency)|Midlands–North-West]]
| subdivision_type         = [[Sovereign state|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| subdivision_type1        = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Connacht]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[Regions of Ireland|Region]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Northern and Western Region|Northern and Western]]
| blank_name_sec1          = [[Vehicle registration plates of Ireland|Vehicle index<br />mark code]]
| blank_info_sec1          = G
| website                  = {{URL|www.galway.ie}}<br />{{URL|https://www.galwaycity.ie}}
| timezone                 = [[Western European Time|WET]]
| utc_offset               = ±0
| timezone_DST             = [[Irish Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset_DST           = +1
| established_title        = Established
| established_date         = {{circa| 1569}}<ref>{{cite journal|first=JOSEPH|last=MANNION|title=Elizabethan County Galway: The Origin and Evolution of an Administrative Unit of Tudor Local Government|date=20 June 2019|journal=Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society|volume=64|pages=64–89|jstor = 24612855}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/County_Galway,_Ireland_Genealogy|title=County Galway, Ireland Genealogy Genealogy |publisher=FamilySearch Wiki |access-date=20 June 2019|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728224820/https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/County_Galway,_Ireland_Genealogy|url-status=live}}</ref>
| area_code_type           = [[Telephone numbers in the Republic of Ireland|Telephone area codes]]
| area_code                = 090, 091, 093, 099 <small>(primarily)</small>
| postal_code_type         = [[Eircode]] routing keys
| postal_code              = F31, H53, H54, H62, H65, H71, H91 <small>(primarily)</small>
| elevation_max_m          = 729
| elevation_max_point      = [[Benbaun]]
| iso_code                 = IE-G
| official_name            = 
| module                   = {{infobox mapframe|zoom=7}}
}}

'''County Galway''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|ɔː|l|w|eɪ}} {{Respell|GAWL|way}}; {{langx|ga|Contae na Gaillimhe}}) is a [[Counties of Ireland|county]] in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. It is in the [[Northern and Western Region]], taking up the south of the [[Provinces of Ireland|province]] of [[Connacht]]. The county population was 276,451 at the 2022 census.<ref name=cso2022/>

There are several [[Gaeltacht|Irish-speaking areas]] in the west of the county. The traditional county includes the city of [[Galway]], but the city and county are separate local government areas, administered by the [[Local government in the Republic of Ireland|local authorities]] of [[Galway City Council]] in the urban area and [[Galway County Council]] in the rest of the county.

==History==
[[File:Dunguaire Castle, Galway, Ireland.png|right|thumb|[[Dunguaire Castle]], [[Kinvara]], built {{circa|1520}}]]
The first inhabitants in the Galway area arrived around the 5th millennium BC. Shell [[midden]]s indicate the existence of people as early as 5000 BC.

The county originally comprised several kingdoms and territories which predate the formation of the county. These kingdoms included {{lang|ga|[[Aidhne]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|ga|[[Uí Maine]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|ga|[[Maigh Seóla]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|ga|[[Conmhaícne Mara]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|ga|[[Soghain]]|italic=no}} and {{lang|ga|[[Máenmaige]]|italic=no}}. County Galway became an official entity around 1569 AD.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mannion |first=Joseph |date=2012 |journal=Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society |volume=64 |pages=64–89 |jstor=24612855 |title=Elizabethan County Galway: The Origin and Evolution of an Administrative Unit of Tudor Local Government }}</ref> The region known as [[Connemara]] retains a distinct identity within the county, though its boundaries are unclear, and it may account for as much as one third, or as little as 20%, of the county.

The county includes a number of inhabited islands, such as the [[Aran Islands]] ({{langx|ga|Oileáin Árann}}) and [[Inishbofin, County Galway|Inishbofin]] ({{langx|ga|Inis Bó Fine}}).

With the arrival of [[Christianity]] many [[monastery|monasteries]] were built in the county. Monasteries kept written records of events in the area and of its people. These were followed by a number of law-tracts, genealogies, annals and miscellaneous accounts. Extant manuscripts containing references to Galway include:
{|
|-
| valign="top" | 
* [[Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada]]
* [[Annals of Lough Cé]]
* [[Annals of Connacht]]
* [[Triallam timcheall na Fodla]]
* [[Leabhar Adhamh Ó Cianáin]]
* [[Leabhar Ua Maine]]
* Corporation Book of Galway
* [[The Book of the Burkes]]
* [[Annals of the Four Masters]]
| valign="top" | 
* [[Leabhar na nGenealach]]
* [[Cuimre na nGenealach]]
* Obituary Book of the Franciscan monastery at Galway
* Annals of the Poor Clares
* Dominican Annal of Athenry
* [[Ogygia: A Chronological Account of Irish Events]]
* West or Iar-Connacht
* The Lynch Manuscript
|}
{{Historical populations
|state=collapsed
|1600|19706
|1610|14233
|1653|18209
|1659|33390
|1668|45678
|1672|55700
|1680|58950
|1690|63711
|1700|65112
|1710|67888
|1720|70345
|1725|71798
|1735|73470
|1745|71997
|1755|68955
|1765|79883
|1771|81225
|1775|87226
|1781|94666
|1788|101557
|1790|116774
|1801|123445
|1811|145333
|1813|142808
|1816|155297
|1821|169503
|1831|204691
|1841|440198
|1851|321684
|1861|271478
|1871|248458
|1881|242005
|1891|214712
|1901|192549
|1911|182224
|1926|169366
|1936|168198
|1946|165201
|1951|160204
|1956|155553
|1961|149887
|1966|148340
|1971|149223
|1979|167838
|1981|172018
|1986|178552
|1991|180364
|1996|188854
|2002|209077
|2006|231670
|2011|250541
|2016|258058
|2022|276451
||footnote=<ref name=cso2022/><ref>For 1653 and 1659 figures from Civil Survey Census of those years, Paper of Mr Hardinge to Royal Irish Academy 14 March 1865.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cso.ie/census|title=Server Error 404 – CSO – Central Statistics Office|website=CSO|access-date=20 June 2019|archive-date=21 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321114801/https://www.cso.ie/census|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.histpop.org  |title=Histpop – The Online Historical Population Reports Website |date= |website=www.histpop.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/ |archive-date=7 May 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census NISRA – Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (c) 2013] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217095720/http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |date=17 February 2012 }}. Nisranew.nisra.gov.uk (27 September 2010). Retrieved on 23 July 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite book
|last=Lee|first=J. J.| author-link =J. J. Lee (historian)|editor-last=Goldstrom|editor-first=J. M.|editor2-last=Clarkson
|editor2-first=L. A.|title=Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell
|year=1981|publisher=Clarendon Press|location=Oxford, England
|chapter=On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Mokyr  | first1 = Joel
  | author-link = Joel Mokyr  | last2 = Ó Gráda  | first2 = Cormac
  | author2-link = Cormac Ó Gráda  | title = New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850  | journal = The Economic History Review  | volume =  37  | issue =  4
  | pages = 473–488  |date=November 1984
  | url = http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121204160709/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract  | url-status = dead  | archive-date = 2012-12-04  | doi = 10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x  | hdl = 10197/1406
 | hdl-access = free  }}</ref><ref name=cso2016City>{{cite web | url = http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=CTY31&Geog_Code=2AE19629143513A3E055000000000001 | title = Census 2016 Sapmap Area: County Galway City | publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)]] | access-date = 21 October 2018 | archive-date = 21 October 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181021111418/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=CTY31&Geog_Code=2AE19629143513A3E055000000000001 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=cso2016County>{{cite web | url = http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=CTY31&Geog_Code=2AE1962914A513A3E055000000000001 | title = Census 2016 Sapmap Area: County Galway County | publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)]] | access-date = 21 October 2018 | archive-date = 21 October 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181021111414/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=CTY31&Geog_Code=2AE1962914A513A3E055000000000001 | url-status = live }}</ref>
}}

==Irish language==
Nearly 20% of the population of County Galway live in areas classed as Gaeltachts (Irish-speaking districts). County Galway is home to the largest [[Gaeltacht]] Irish-speaking region in Ireland. There are over 48,000 people living within this region, which extends from Galway city westwards through [[Connemara]]. The region consists of the following Irish-speaking areas: [[Galway City Gaeltacht]] (parts of the city), [[Gaeltacht Cois Fharraige]], [[Conamara Theas]], [[Aran Islands]], and [[Joyce Country|Duiche Sheoigheach]] (a part of the northern Galway region known as "Joyce Country" and [[Maam Valley]]).

All schools within the Gaeltacht use the Irish language for classroom instruction. There is also a third-level constituent college of [[NUIG]] called [[Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge]] in [[Carraroe]] and [[Carna, County Galway|Carna]]. [[Clifden]] is the largest town in the region. Galway City is also home to Ireland's only Irish-language theatre, [[Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe]]. There is a strong Irish-language media presence in this area too, which boasts the radio station [[Raidió na Gaeltachta]] and ''[[Foinse]]'' newspaper in [[Carraroe]] and national TV station [[TG4]] in [[Baile na hAbhann]]. The [[Aran Islands]] are also part of the Galway Gaeltacht.

According to Census 2016, 84,249 people in County Galway claimed they could speak Irish.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cp10esil/p10esil/ilg/|title=Census of Population 2016 – Profile 10 Education, Skills and the Irish Language|website=Central Statistics Office|access-date=2018-10-11|archive-date=8 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208225214/https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cp10esil/p10esil/ilg/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Census 2011, the Galway city and county Gaeltacht has a population of 48,907, of which 30,978 said they could speak Irish; 23,788 classed themselves as native Irish speakers, while 7,190 speak Irish daily only within the classroom. There are 3,006 attending the ten [[Gaelscoil]] (Irish language primary schools) and three [[Gaelcholáiste]] (Irish language secondary schools) outside the Galway Gaeltacht.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaelscoileanna.ie/assets/Staitistic%C3%AD-2010-2011_Gaeilge.pdf|title=Oideachas Trí Mheán na Gaeilge in Éirinn sa Ghalltacht 2010–2011|year=2011|publisher=gaelscoileanna.ie|language=Irish|access-date=9 January 2012|archive-date=19 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419091247/http://www.gaelscoileanna.ie/assets/Staitistic%C3%AD-2010-2011_Gaeilge.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the Irish Census 2016, there are 9,445 people in the county who identify themselves as being daily Irish speakers outside the education system.<ref name=":0" />

==Local government and politics==
[[File:Galway County Council, 2022-05-15.jpg|thumb|left|[[County Hall, Galway]]]]
[[Galway City Council]] and [[Galway County Council]] are the local authorities for the respective local government areas. The local government area of County Galway includes some suburbs of the city not within the city area. Each local authority is responsible for certain local [[Public services|services]] such as [[sanitation]], [[planning]] and [[Real estate development|development]], [[library|libraries]], the collection of [[automobile|motor]] [[tax]]ation, local [[road]]s and [[social housing]].

Under the [[Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898]], County Galway was divided into the [[urban and rural districts (Ireland)|urban districts]] of [[Ballinasloe]] and [[Galway]], and the [[rural district (Ireland)|rural districts]] of Ballinasloe No. 1, Clifden, Galway, Glennamaddy, Gort, Loughrea, Mount Bellew, Oughterard, Portumna, and Tuam.<ref>{{cite book |last=Clancy |first=J. J.|author-link=J. J. Clancy (North Dublin MP)|title=A handbook of local government in Ireland: containing an explanatory introduction to the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898: together with the text of the act, the orders in Council, and the rules made thereunder relating to county council, rural district council, and guardian's elections: with an index|url=https://archive.org/details/handbookoflocalg00clan/page/424/mode/2up |page=424 |year=1899|publisher=Sealy, Bryers and Walker|location=Dublin }}</ref> [[Loughrea]], within the rural district of Loughrea, and [[Tuam]], within the rural district of Tuam, had [[town commissioners]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1926 Census: Table 9: Population, Area and Valuation of urban and rural districts and of all towns with a population of 1,500 inhabitants or over, showing particulars of town and village population and of the number of persons per 100 acres |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/census1926results/volume1/C_1926_V1_T9.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427074421/http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/census1926results/volume1/C_1926_V1_T9.pdf |archive-date=2016-04-27 |url-status=live |publisher=Central Statistics Office |page=27 |access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref> The rural districts were abolished in 1925.<ref>{{cite Irish legislation|year=1925|parl=ifs|number=5|name=[[Local Government Act 1925]]|date=26 March 1925|section=3|stitle=Abolition of rural district councils|access-date=22 December 2021}}</ref>

In 1937, the urban district of [[Galway]] became the borough of Galway, remaining part of County Galway.<ref>{{cite Irish legislation|name=Local Government (Galway) Act 1937|year=1937|number=3|type=prv|section=4|date=10 June 1937|stitle=Formation of the Borough of Galway|access-date=24 June 2021}}</ref> In 1986, the borough of Galway became the [[county borough]] of Galway and ceased to part of County Galway.<ref>{{cite Irish legislation|name=Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985|year=1985|number=7|section=5|date=3 April 1985|stitle=Establishment of Borough of Galway as County Borough|access-date=24 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite Irish legislation|name=Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985 (County Borough of Galway) (Appointed Day) Order 1985 |type=si|year=1985|number=425|date=18 December 1985|access-date=24 June 2021}}</ref> In 2002, all county boroughs were redefined as cities.<ref>{{cite Irish legislation|name=[[Local Government Act 2001]]|year=2001|number=37|section=10|date=21 July 2001|stitle=Local government areas|access-date=24 June 2021}}</ref>

In 2002, the urban district of Ballinasloe and the town commissioners of Loughrea and Tuam became [[Town council (Ireland)|town councils]].<ref>{{cite Irish legislation|name=[[Local Government Act 2001]]|year=2001|schedno=6|stitle=Local Government Areas (Towns)|number=37|date=21 July 2001|access-date=21 May 2022}}</ref> All town councils in Ireland were abolished in 2014.<ref>{{cite Irish legislation|name=[[Local Government Reform Act 2014]]|year=2014|section=24|stitle=Dissolution of town councils and transfer date|number=1|date=27 January 2014|access-date=21 May 2022}}</ref>

As part of the [[Northern and Western Region]], Galway County Council has three representatives and Galway City Council has two representatives on the Northern and Western Regional Assembly.<ref>{{Cite Irish legislation|year=2014|type=si|number=573|name=Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014|date=16 December 2014|access-date=25 February 2022}}</ref>

The county is part of three [[Dáil constituencies]]: [[Galway East (Dáil constituency)|Galway East]] (3 seats), [[Galway West (Dáil constituency)|Galway West]] (5 seats) and [[Roscommon–Galway (Dáil constituency)|Roscommon–Galway]] (5 seats).<ref>{{cite Irish legislation|year=2017|number=39|schedule=y|name=[[Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017]]|date=23 December 2017|access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref> It is part of the [[Midlands–North-West (European Parliament constituency)|Midlands–North-West]] constituency for [[Elections in the European Union|European elections]].<ref>{{cite Irish legislation|year=2019|number=7|section=7 |name=European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2019|date=12 March 2019|access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Dun Aonghasa.JPG|thumb|right|The prehistoric hill fort of Dún Aonghasa, Inishmore Island]]

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.

===Lakes===
County Galway is partly home to a number of [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland's]] largest lakes including [[Lough Corrib]] (the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland), [[Lough Derg (Shannon)|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 (Galway)|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 (Ireland)|Ross Lake]] and [[Lough Shindilla]].

===Climate===
The location of County Galway, situated on the west coast of Ireland, allows it to be directly influenced by the [[Gulf Stream]]. Temperature extremes are rare and short lived, though inland areas, particularly east of the Corrib, can boast some of the highest recorded temperatures of the summer in the island of Ireland (sometimes exceeding 30&nbsp;°C); though these temperatures only occur when land warmed east winds sweep the area; the opposite effect can occur in the winter. Overall, however, Galway is influenced mainly by Atlantic airstreams which bring ample rainfall in between the fleeting sunshine. Rainfall occurs in every month of the year, though the late autumn and winter months can be particularly wet as Atlantic cyclonic activity increases and passes over and around the area, and which is why Galway tends to bear the brunt of severe windstorms that can occur between August and March. The county on average receives about 1300mm of rainfall annually, though some areas along the west coast of the county can receive up to 1900mm and beyond. [[Extreme weather]] such as blizzards, thunderstorms, flash flooding and hail, though rare, can and do occur, particularly when [[air mass]]es of continental origin are undercut by more humid and unstable Atlantic flows.

===Largest settlements in County Galway (2022 Census)===
{{See also|List of towns and villages in County Galway}}
# [[Galway]], 85,910
# [[Tuam]], 9,647
# [[Ballinasloe]], 6,597
# [[Loughrea]], 6,322
# [[Oranmore]], 5,819
# [[Athenry]], 4,603
# [[Gort]], 2,870
# [[Bearna]], 2,336
# [[Moycullen]], 2,279
# [[Oughterard]], 1,846

==Economy==
According to numbers published by Galway Chamber of Commerce in early 2019, there were then 196 [[information and communications technology|information and communications technology (ICT)]] organisations in Galway, including IBM, SAP, Oracle and Cisco.<ref name="chambereconomy">{{cite web | url = https://www.galwaychamber.com/galway/ | publisher = Galway Chamber of Commerce | website = galwaychamber.com | title = Galway in Numbers | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190107130846/https://www.galwaychamber.com/galway/ | archive-date = 7 January 2019 | access-date = 24 March 2019 | url-status = live }}</ref> There is a number of medical device companies in the area, including Medtronic (with approximately 1,800 employees) and Boston Scientific (2,800 employees).<ref name="chambereconomy"/>

==Sports==
{{See also|Sport in Galway}}
Gaelic games are the most popular sport in the county. Galway had traditional regions in which [[Gaelic football]] or hurling is played. For example, in south and eastern County Galway, in places such as [[Portumna]], [[Gort]], [[Clarinbridge]] and [[Athenry]], hurling is the dominant sport with successful teams at county and national level. Most of the rest of the county is considered to be footballing territory, with most of the county players being from the [[Tuam]] area, [[Oughterard]], [[Moycullen]] or parts of [[Galway|Galway city]].

[[Galway United FC]] compete in the [[League of Ireland Premier Division]] and plays home games in [[Eamonn Deacy Park]].

[[Connacht Rugby]], which competes in the [[United Rugby Championship]], is based in [[Galway Sportsgrounds|the Sportsgrounds]] in [[Galway city]]. The two main amateur rugby clubs in the county are [[Galway Corinthians RFC]] and [[Galwegians RFC]] which compete in the [[All-Ireland League (rugby union)|All-Ireland League]].

County Galway is home to multiple basketball clubs, including [[Super League (Ireland)|Super League]] teams [[University of Galway Maree]] and [[Moycullen Basketball Club]].

[[Sport of athletics|Athletics]] is also a very popular sport in Galway, a few clubs being; Galway City Harriers, [[Craughwell]] Athletic Club, [[Athenry]] A.C, [[Tuam]] A.C, [[Loughrea]] A.C and many others.

==Notable people==
{{See also|Category:People from County Galway}}
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
*[[Joe Canning]] (born 1988), hurler
*[[Davy Carton]] (born 1959), member of [[The Saw Doctors]]
*[[Aaron Connolly (Irish footballer)]] (born 2000), professional footballer
*[[Nicola Coughlan]] (born 1987), actress
*[[Seán William McLoughlin]] (born 1990), YouTuber
*[[Mike Denver]] (born 1980), country singer
*[[Maura Derrane]] (born 1970), journalist and TV presenter
*[[Pádraic Joyce]] (born 1977), Gaelic footballer
*[[Dolores Keane]] (born 1953), folk singer
*[[Seán Keane (singer)]] (born 1961), folk singer
*[[Leo Moran]] (born 1964), member of [[The Saw Doctors]]
*[[Brendan Murray]] (born 1996), singer
*[[Tomás Ó Reaftaraigh]] (fl. 1899), Irish scribe
*[[Gráinne Seoige]] (born 1973), journalist
*[[Síle Seoige]] (born 1979), TV presenter
*[[John Conness]] (born 1821), passed bill to make Yosemite National Park

==See also==
* [[Connacht Irish]]
* [[Galway GAA]]
* [[List of monastic houses in Ireland#County Galway|List of monastic houses in Ireland (County Galway)]]
* [[Joyce Country]]
* [[Lord Lieutenant of Galway]]
* [[High Sheriff of County Galway]]
* [[High Sheriff of Galway Town]]
* [[Western Railway Corridor]]
* [[Wild Atlantic Way]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Select bibliography==
* Conor McNamara, 'War and Revolution in the West of Ireland, Galway 1913–22' (Irish Academic Press, 2019).
* ''History of Galway'', [[James Hardiman]], 1820
* ''Education in the [[Diocese]] of [[Kilmachduagh]] in the nineteenth century'', Sr. Mary de Lourdes Fahy, Convent of Mercy, Gort, 1972
*"On the Corporation Books of Galway", Trench, W.F. & Lawson, T.D., Journal of the [[Galway Archaeological and Historical Society]] Vol. 1, 1900–1901, no. 2. 
*"The Lurgan canoe", Costello, T.B, JGAHS Vol. 2, 1902, no. 1.
*''Blake Family Records'', vol. 1, Martin J. Blake. 
*"Portrait of Sir Valentine Blake of Menlough, 3rd Baronet (1608–1652)", anon, JGAHS Vol. 3, 1903–1904, no. 3.
*"Will of Geoffrey French of Galway, A.D. 1528", Martin J. Blake, JGAHS Vol. 4, 1905 –1906, no. 4.
*"A De Burgo silver chalice, A.D. 1494: with notes on the family of Bourke of Turlough, Co. Mayo; drawing & text."JGAHS Vol. 5, 1907–1908, no. 4.
*''Old Galway'', Maureen Donovan-O'Sullivan, 1942. 
*"The Anglo-Normans in Co. Galway: the process of colonization", Patrick Holland, JGAHS Vol. 41, 1987–88.
* ''Galway: History and Society'', ed. Gerard Moran and Raymond Gillespie, Geography Publications, Dublin, 1996, {{ISBN|0-906602-75-0}}
(selections below)
**"The Topography of Medieval and Early Modern Galway City";
**"From Warlords to Landlords: Political and Social Change in Galway 1540–1640";
**"Religion and the Laity in Early Modern Galway";
**"The Transfer of Power: Galway 1642–1703";
**"The Politics of Protestant ascendency: County Galway 1650–1832";
**"Landlords and Land Usage in Eighteenth Century Galway";
**"The Galway Tribes as Landowners and Gentry
**"The Response of the Poor Law to the Great Famine in County Galway
**"The Encumbered Estates Court and Galway Property 1849–58
**"Bishop John MacEvilly and the Catholic Church in Late Nineteenth Century Galway
**"Minor Famines and Relief in Galway, 1815–1925"
**"From Connacht to North America: State Aided Emigration from County Galway in the 1880s"
**"Trade Unionism in County Galway, 1898–1914"
**"Scríobhaithe Lámhscribhínni Gaeilge I nGallimh"
**"The Galway Gaeltacht, 1926–81: a Sociolinguistic Study of Continuity and Change"
*''A town tormented by the sea: Galway 1790–1914'', John Cunningham, 2004.
*''The Ploughman on the Pound Note'', Eugene Duggan, 2004.
*''Land and Revolution" – Nationalist Politics in the West of Ireland 1891 – 1921'', Fergus Campbell, 2005.
*"The de Berminghams, Barons of Athenry", Paul Mohr, JGAHS Vol. 63, 2011.
*''Clár Amhrán Mhaigh Cuilinn'', Ciarán Ó Con Cheanainn, 2011.
*''He Who Dared and Died" – The Life and Death of an SAS Original, Sergeant Chris O'Dowd MM'', Gearóid O'Dowd, 2011
*''The case of the Craughwell Prisoners during the Land War in Co. Galway, 1879–85'', Pat Finnegan, 2012
*''Loughrea, that den of infamy: The Land War in County Galway, 1879–82'', Pat Finnegan, 2014.
*''East Galway agrarian agitation and the burning of Ballydugan House, 1922'', Anne O'Riordan, 2015.
*''Rebellion in Galway – Easter Rising 1916'' Kevin Jordan, 2016.
*''The Tribes of Galway: 1124–1642'', Adrian Martyn, 2016.
*''He was Galway:Máirtín Mór McDonogh, 1860–1934'', Jackie Uí Chionna, 2016.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikivoyage}}
{{NIE Poster|year=1906|Galway (county)|County Galway}}
*[http://www.galway.ie/ Galway County Council]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190831194132/http://www.galwayindependent.com/ The Galway Independent, a local newspaper]
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = County Galway
|Northwest = [[County Mayo]][[File:County Mayo coat of arms.png|30px]]
|Northeast = [[County Roscommon]][[File:Logo-contea-Roscommon.png|30px]]
|East      = [[County Offaly]][[File:Offaly crest.svg|30px]]
|Southeast = [[County Tipperary]][[File:IRL county Tipperary COA.png|24px]]
|South     = [[County Clare]][[File:County Clare Crest.svg|30px]] 
|West      = [[Atlantic Ocean]]  
}}

{{County Galway}}
{{Ireland counties}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|53|20|N|9|00|W|region:IE_type:adm1st_source:GNS-enwiki|display=title}}

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[[Category:County Galway| ]]
[[Category:Connacht|Galway]]
[[Category:Counties of the Republic of Ireland|Galway]]
[[Category:Local government areas of the Republic of Ireland|Galway]]