Eyre Square
Encyclopedia
John F. Kennedy Memorial Park is an inner-city public park in Galway
, Ireland
, formerly officially named Eyre Square and still widely known by that name. The park is within the city centre, adjoining the nearby shopping area of Williams Street and Shop Street.
The park is rectangular, surrounded on three sides by streets that form the major traffic arteries into Galway city centre; the West side of the Square was pedestrianised in 2006.
In the middle of the 19th century the whole park underwent a redevelopment in Georgian style. In the 1960s full-scale reconstruction started and iron railings were removed and raised around the backyard of St. Nicholas' Church. In 1965 the park reopened with a new name: John F. Kennedy Memorial Park.
The plot of land that became Eyre Square was officially presented to the city in 1710 by Mayor Edward Eyre, from whom it took its name. In 1965, the square was officially renamed "Kennedy Memorial Park" in honour of US President John F. Kennedy
, who visited Galway city shortly before his assassination in 1963. A redevelopment work of the square began in 2004. There was some controversy when it was reported that the building contractors had left the site and were not returning. The square reopened on 13 April 2006 after costing €9.6 million. The finished square received Irish Landscape Institute Design Award in 2007.
Regiment
in the British Army
, in the Crimean War
. A statue of Irish language
writer
Pádraic Ó Conaire
was erected in the memory in 1935. However during the redevelopment works, this was removed and it now resides in the new Galway city Museum in the Spanish Arch
area of the city. There is a bust
of a portrait of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
in the park.
The Browne doorway is also another attraction in Eyre Square as it was originally the doorway of the Browne families home on Lower Abbeygate Street and it was moved in 1905 from Abbeygate street to Eyre Square.
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, formerly officially named Eyre Square and still widely known by that name. The park is within the city centre, adjoining the nearby shopping area of Williams Street and Shop Street.
The park is rectangular, surrounded on three sides by streets that form the major traffic arteries into Galway city centre; the West side of the Square was pedestrianised in 2006.
History
The origin of the square comes from medieval open space in front of town gate, known as The Green. Mostly markets took place in northern part of the space. The earliest endeavour to glamourize it were recorded in 1631. Some ash-trees were planted and park was enclosed by wooden fence. In 1801 General Meyrick raised stone wall around the square, which was later known as Meyrick Square.In the middle of the 19th century the whole park underwent a redevelopment in Georgian style. In the 1960s full-scale reconstruction started and iron railings were removed and raised around the backyard of St. Nicholas' Church. In 1965 the park reopened with a new name: John F. Kennedy Memorial Park.
The plot of land that became Eyre Square was officially presented to the city in 1710 by Mayor Edward Eyre, from whom it took its name. In 1965, the square was officially renamed "Kennedy Memorial Park" in honour of US President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, who visited Galway city shortly before his assassination in 1963. A redevelopment work of the square began in 2004. There was some controversy when it was reported that the building contractors had left the site and were not returning. The square reopened on 13 April 2006 after costing €9.6 million. The finished square received Irish Landscape Institute Design Award in 2007.
Statues and attractions
There were two large, cast-iron cannon which were presented in recognition of the service of the Connaught Rangers, an IrishIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, in the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
. A statue of Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
Pádraic Ó Conaire
Pádraic Ó Conaire
Pádraic Ó Conaire was an Irish writer and journalist whose production was primarily in the Irish language.-Life:Ó Conaire was born in Galway in 1882. His father was a publican, who owned two premises in the town...
was erected in the memory in 1935. However during the redevelopment works, this was removed and it now resides in the new Galway city Museum in the Spanish Arch
Spanish Arch
The Spanish Arch in Galway city, Ireland was originally an extension of the city wall from Martin's Tower to the bank of the Corrib, as a measure to protect the city's quays, which were located in the area once known as the Fish Market...
area of the city. There is a bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
of a portrait of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
in the park.
The Browne doorway is also another attraction in Eyre Square as it was originally the doorway of the Browne families home on Lower Abbeygate Street and it was moved in 1905 from Abbeygate street to Eyre Square.