A new exhibition of photographs of Old Galway, curated by historian and gallery owner Tom Kenny, will open in Galway City this Friday, May 9, and will run for four weeks.

The Streets of Galway, at the Kenny Gallery in Liosbán, is in memory of the late Ronnie O’Gorman.

Featuring over 40 photographs capturing Galway City and its people in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the images feature streets, markets, shops, workers and everyday life. Eyre Square, the railway station, John F Kennedy’s visit, the old barracks and shop fronts all feature in the show.

The images were sourced from Tom own collection, as well as from institutional archives and via personal contributions from Galwegians.

“The photographs transcend mere nostalgia, serving as vital records of Galway’s social fabric. They are key artefacts not just of our past, but for Galway’s future generations,” Tom says.

Following the previous much-visited Old Galway exhibition in the gallery in 2023, he has now curated this collection in memory of his late friend and collaborator Ronnie O’Gorman, who founded the Galway Advertiser.

Tom has been writing a weekly Old Galway column in that paper for over 50 years, and first gave Ronnie pictures to publish in the paper in 1974.

In addition to the exhibition, Volume 1 of The Old Galway Diary, which the two men co-wrote has just been reprinted and is available at Kennys’ and on www.kennys.ie, along with Volume 2.

These books document historic episodes and fascinating stories of Galway City, alongside selected photographs.

Tom Old Galway show, The Streets of Galway runs in Kennys’ from this Friday, May 9, to June 3. The gallery is open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Admission is free, and all are welcome. The official launch takes place at the gallery this Friday at 6pm and all are welcome to that also.

Pictured: Tom Kenny at the gallery in Liosbán, curating photos for the exhibition.