The Irish-language and Irish-language literature is a central facet of Galway city’s folklore, heritage and legacy. This anthology of prose and poetry gives an overview of how poets and writers interpreted, imagined and understood Galway city.

Within these writings the reader will find the statue of Pádraic Ó Conaire, Eyre Square, the Spanish Arch, the Claddagh, Renmore, Newcastle, Knocknacara, Ballybrit, Nun’s Island, The Long Walk, Claddagh Church, High Street, Dominick Street, Middle Street, Quay Street, Shop Street, Augustine Street, Saint Francis Street, Cross Street, Woodquay, Salmon Weir Bridge, Lough Atalia Bridge, Moneenageisha, and many other landmarks.

Due to space constraints, this collection does not contain all relevant mentions in published works in Irish. We decided not to include biographies, autobiographies, memoir, essays or plays in this anthology and to focus instead on works of fiction and poetry. This anthology is a celebration of Irish-language literature and of Galway city.

To increase the representation of women writers in the collection, we asked ten poets to write a piece for the anthology and all are published here as part of the Galway 2020 commemoration to celebrate and elevate the city’s rich heritage in Irish-language literature.