The Spanish Arch

The ruling class in Dublin once said that "Galway is more Spanish than Irish" because of the amount of Spaniards that took up residence here. For this reason, the arch was coined after the Spanish. The Spanish ships and galleons often would dock alongside the Arch.

The Spanish Arch was built in 1584 and actually consisted of four arches which were part of the medieval defensive walls of Galway. The Spanish Arch was an access point to the city and served to protect the nearby quays where goods were loaded and unloaded onto ships.

The Spanish Arch is one of Galway's most historic landmarks it is located on the East Bank of the River Corrib Estuary, where the river meets the sea. Medieval Galway was almost completely enclosed by massive walls, however, the dock area near the Spanish Arch, was at that time, outside the walls.