This elegant 4 star luxury hotel is located on the very fashionable Eyre Square in Galway’s City Centre, ensuring you are in amid the buzz and life of the city and a short stroll from numerous pubs and restaurants.
Hotel Meyrick first opened its doors to guests in 1852, as the Railway Hotel for the Midland and Great Western Railway Company.
The hotel was notable for its balls, of all sorts. Nineteenth, twentieth and twenty first century ones.
Just after 12 on a fine summer’s day in July 1857, no less than Prince Louis Napoleon of France himself arrived at the hotel for lunch, shortly after landing in Galway docks on board his steam yacht (as one does). So great was the Galwegian welcome extended to Monsiuer Bonaparte, that the chattering classes in Dublin and London were shocked at the prospect of a Francophile takeover!
During the Emergency, the hotel was requisitioned by the British Army and later handed back after the signing of the Treaty in 1922 only for the Republican forces to take their turn to abandon barracks and occupy the hotel, who only enjoyed a brief soujourn there before the hotel was returned to normal and business continued as usual.
Messers Alcock & Brown stayed at the hotel in 1919 after their scheduled non-stop transatlantic flight (albeit the first) landed at Derrygimla Bog near Clifden. Again, the Galwegians ensured such noteworthy visitors enjoyed the party through to the next day, culminating in thousands waiting for hours outside the hotel to see the two pilots.
Not to be out done in 1933, Mr & Mrs Lindberghs (Charles being the American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist) arrived in Galway after landing their seaplane nearby, they too staying at the hotel.
Over the years the hotel has paid host to many famous guests from Presidents to Taoisigh, soccer stars, actors (John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara and Barry Fitzgerald) and singers (including Bing Crosby), writers , poets, journeymen, a veritable list of Ireland’s (and the worlds) saints and scholars.
A perfect base to visit and enjoy the vibrant and colourful city of the tribes with its flowing rivers, trendy university population, Arts, Theatre and Oysetr festivals, the gateway to the wild and rugged Connemara, home to hookers and trawlers and wildlife of all kinds.
