Our History

Eyre Square’s Webb’s Hotel was originally built in 1810 and was known as the Clanricarde Arms. It was later known as Kilroy’s Hotel, then Murphy’s until it was taken over by Joe Delaney and he changed the name to The Imperial Hotel Galway.

Fair days were common events in Eyre Square. Cattle fairs in Galway were originally held at Fairhill but moved to this location towards the end of the 19th century. In addition to the cattle fairs, the Square played host to sheep fairs, horse fairs, pig fairs, turf markets, hay markets, sock markets, etc. There was also the market with no dignity, the gathering of spailpíns at the railings. These were unemployed men who came mostly from west of the city and who were hoping to be employed as labourers by farmers from east or south of the city.