The Tribes of Galway (Treibheanna na Gaillimhe) were fourteen merchant families who dominated the political, commercial, and social life of the city of Galway in western Ireland between the mid-13th and late-19th centuries. They were the families of Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D'Arcy, Deane, Ffont, Ffrench, Joyce, Kirwan, Lynch, Martyn, Morris and Skerritt. They were of Anglo-Norman or Cambro-Norman origin except for the D'Arcy/Darcy (Ó Dorchaidhe) and Kirwan (Ó Ciardhubháin) families who were of Irish origin.
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History
The "Tribes" were wealthy merchant families who prospered from trade with continental Europe; they also dominated Galway's municipal government, the Kirwans being the wealthiest, carrying on to this very day.
Members of the 'Tribes' were considered Old English gentry, and distinguished themselves from the Gaelic peoples who lived in the hinterland of the city. However the feared suppression of their common faith joined both sides together as Irish Catholics after the Irish Rebellion of 1641 (indeed for many Irish was a second or even first language). During the Irish Confederate Wars (1641-1653), Galway took the side of the Confederate Catholics of Ireland, and as a result the Tribes were punished following the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. The town was besieged and after the surrender of Galway in April 1652, the Tribes had to face the confiscation of their property by the New Model Army.
The Tribes lost much of their power within Galway city after English Parliamentarians took over the Galway Corporation in 1654. Because of the uncertain response to this dilemma by the merchant families, Cromwell's forces referred to them by the derogatory name, "The Tribes of Galway", which they themselves later adopted as a mark of defiance.
Galway's urban elite enjoyed a measure of their power restored during the reign of the King Charles II (1660-1685) and his successor James II. However, Jacobite defeat in the War of the Two Kings (1689-91), marked the end of the Tribes' once overwhelming political influence on the life of the city - which passed to its small Protestant population. Garrison members of the tribes who owned land in Galway and Mayo were protected by the advantageous surrender provisions that were signed on 22 July 1691.
Notable members of the Tribes
The Lynch family remained the premier Tribal family until well into the 19th century. They dominated the office of mayor from 1485 to 1654, Peirce Lynch being the first to be appointed.
Leo Bodkin, (1879- 30 August 1919) was a British military officer and writer from Ireland. Michael Bodkin (c.1888-1900) was the inspiration for Michael Furey in James Joyce's short story "The Dead".
Captain James "Spanish" Blake (fl.1588-1635) was an agent for the English secret service during the Nine Years War (Ireland) (1594-1603) and was said to have been responsible for the assassination of Red Hugh O'Donnell in Spain in 1602 (although this is doubtful).
Richard Kirwan (1733-1812), president of the Royal Irish Academy from 1791, was awarded the Copley Medal for contributions to analytical chemistry. Joseph W. Kirwan, President of Queen's University, Galway.
Richard Martin (1754-1834) was a long-time advocate of Catholic Emancipation and a founder of The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Lord Killanin (1914-99), sixth president of the International Olympic Committee 1972-80, was a descendant of the Morris tribe. His sons are the filmmaker, Redmond Morris, and horsetrainer, Mouse Morris.
In 2000, Angela Lynch became the 84th Lynch to serve as Mayor of Galway since 1485.
All the surnames of the Tribes are still to be found in Galway City and County, although Athy, Font, Deane and Skerritt are rare.
Nickname
Like all Irish counties Galway has a nickname. The nickname the tribesmen is now used for the county and its people and is derived from this term.
Roundabouts
The tribes also lend their names to fourteen of the city's roundabouts (USA: traffic circles) located in or around the city's boundaries. The roundabouts are signposted on navy blue signs containing the tribe's name in English prominently, with the Irish language form above in italics.
References
- History of Galway, James Hardiman, Galway, 1820.
- Old Galway, Maureen Donovan O'Sullivan, 1942.
- The Tribes of Galway, Adrian James Martyn, Galway, 2001.
- Role of Honour:The Mayors of Galway City 1485-2001, by William Henry, Galway, 2002. ISBN 0906312509
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