Atlantic Museum Galway

Galway City, situated at the mouth of the River Corrib on Ireland’s west coast, is a medieval walled city with a unique legacy of historic buildings. The city’s museum, first opened in the 1970s, closed in 2004 and was replaced by a new purpose-built attraction nearby in 2007. In 2016 it was the 11th most-visited free tourist attraction in Ireland. For several years, a plan has been in the works to enhance the museum and create a ‘medieval city walls experience’ to make more use of the Spanish Arch – one of the main tourism sites in the city. Now the museum has announced plans to undergo a €10.2m redevelopment, rebranding as the Atlantic Museum Galway. Fáilte Ireland will be providing €6.64 million, with Galway City Council also supporting the project. The new three-storey interactive museum will be created at Comerford House, next to the current museum. New exhibitions will highlight the influence the Atlantic has had on the people, cultures, and traditions of the ‘Merchant City’. Through cutting-edge technology, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of the merchant tribes, Claddagh Basin, and Spanish Armada. Other plans include a viewing point at the top of the Spanish Arch and a reconfigured public square between the Arch and the existing museum. The project is currently slated to complete by 2022. (Updated 12 May 2021)