Function
The Medieval hall was to act as a key municipal building. The building was used to collect taxes and dues as well as to dispense justice in the newly established urban settlement. It is also thought that banquets would have been held in the hall.
Who was the Red Earl? The Great Grandson of the Anglo Norman Knight William de Burgh
- William de Burgh– granted Connaught in 1179 after the Anglo – Norman arrival 10 years before 1169.
- Richard Mór de Burgh - 1st Baron of Connaught- inherits Connaught on death of his Father and is the first of the De Burgh’s to attempt to establish control of the lands of Connaught. Builds a castle near the site of the Hall on the captured remains of the O’Flaherty Dún (1232).
- Walter de Burgh - 2nd Baron of Connaught and 1st Earl of Ulster (1263) – becomes Baron of Connaught on death of Father and in 1270 instigated a phase of wall building designed to further enclose and fortify the town of Galway.
- Richard Óg de Burgh (RED EARL), becomes the 3rd Baron of Connaught and 2nd Earl of Ulster upon the death of Walter in 1271. He continues the wall building and acquires vast wealth through service to King Edward I of England during the Bruce wars and it is the remains of the Hall he built that you see before you today! Richard Óg de Burgh, the Red Earl was one of the most powerful Irish nobles of the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
The Site today
The remains of the building were unearthed by Office of Public Works archaeologists in 1997 when plans to extend the adjacent Revenue Commissioners offices onto this site were proposed.
This led to the extension to the Revenue Commissioners offices being completely redesigned to allow for the preservation of the archaeological site. Realising the immense importance of the hall, the offices were instead constructed by the OPW in bridge-like fashion overhead.
Three works of art were also specially commissioned by the OPW to reflect the importance and interest of the excavation, these can be viewed on site.
- A grand reproduction of a wine bottle uncovered.
- A large ‘shield-style’ model of a pottery sherd also discovered during excavations.
- A stylised overlay of the entire site was also produced by the commissioned artist.
Today Galway Civic Trust are delighted to operating from with the offices of the Revenue Commissioners and look forward to presenting the site of ‘The Hall of the Red Earl’ to the general public.
Come visit this fantastic location to discover more about the foundations of the City of Galway its history and the amazing artefacts that were discovered during the excavations!