This was the city besieged by the Cromwellian forces in July 1651. Blockaded
from the sea by units of the strongest navy in the world, blocked from the
land, swollen by refugees fleeing from the advancing English forces, with
famine threatening and dissent forming among the merchant families and clerical
ranks, Galway surrendered to the Cootes garrison in
April 1652. Although the terms of the surrender granted by Coote were quite
liberal, it soon became apparent that the people had been duped and the conquerors
had other plans for the fate of the city. The intolerable burden of a monthly
contribution of £400, the large scale seizure of women and young girls for
dispatch to the Barbadoes, the seizure of goods and confiscation of houses in
lieu of the monthly payment and the ceaseless onslaught on all the property and
personnel of the church all combined to oppress the people of the conquered
city. Churches and abbeys were destroyed, and the beautiful mansions of the
merchant princes were sacked by soldiers. Finally the Government grew anxious about the ruin
being wrought in Galway and the sought in 1656 to
accelerate the replanting of the town with a Protestant English population.
Despite their efforts, and those of Cromwell himself, the plantation did not
materialize and Galway was left derelict and in decay.
Modern Galway
During the following centuries, Galway did not regain
its former splendor. Very little rebuilding of note took place. The town walls
gradually decayed and were demolished and there is an absence of Georgian
architecture, of prevalent in other Irish cities Dublin
and Limerick. Nevertheless, the population of the city
increased during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Galway is now a thriving modern city,
with festivals to celebrate everything from horse racing to traditional music.
It is Europe’s fastest growing city, yet retains much of
its medieval charm