58 TOWN OF GALWAY. 



west of Ireland, and Galway was the chief port for 

 the Spanish trade. So far back as 1493, it was a 

 town of considerable importance, the major of that 

 day having been a Spanish merchant. At present it 

 is suffering from the pressure on the surrounding 

 country, and business of every kind is very dull. The 

 streets are dirty, and masses of rubbish are suffered to 

 obstruct the most crowded thoroughfares. Great 

 numbers of pigs are allowed to roam about the streets, 

 and you sometimes find the possession of the pavement 

 disputed with you by a lusty grunter. The square 

 seems the chief point of attraction ; and every now 

 and then the air resounds with the shrill squeak * of 

 some unlucky porker, smarting under the lash of 

 an angry car-driver. A handsome building, on the 

 west of the town, is just completed, for the occupa- 

 tion of the professors and students of the Queen's 

 College. 



It is said to be in contemplation to make this port 

 the station of the American packets, as from Galway 

 America can be reached in four days less than from 

 any port in England ; and this is a measure which, 

 I think, might be expected to contribute in no incon- 

 siderable degree to the resources of the country. But 

 it will probably depend on the opening of the railway 

 to Dublin, which, when completed, will add much to 

 the importance of the place. There are several 

 excellent flour-mills situated on the river, and an 

 immense water-power still unused. This may some 

 day attract the attention of the enterprising tourist, 

 who, putting all advantages together — cheap and short 



