Galway. I. A maritime county of Con-naught, Ireland, bordering on the Atlantic and Galway bay, and on the counties of Mayo, Roscommon, Kings, Tipperarv, and Clare; area, 2,342 sq. m.; pop. in 1871,"248,257. It is separated by Lough Corrib into two divisions, differing in geological formation and physical appearance. The eastern division rests on a limestone basis, and is in general level and fertile, except the central parts, which contain large quantities of wet bog, nearly unproductive.

The western part, comprising the district of Connemara, rests upon granite, and is barren, rugged, and mountainous, but contains valuable mines of copper, lead, and manganese, and quarries of marble and other stones. Agriculture is in a very backward state. The southern parts produce some tine wheat, but oats and barley are the principal products elsewhere. Flax is also cultivated, but less extensively than formerly. Grazing is much attended to. The coast fisheries have diminished in importance; but a company has recently been formed for carrying on deep-sea fisheries. There are some manufactures, among which are woollen ho-sierv, coarse linens and friezes, and felt hats.

The production of kelp was formerly one of the great sources of profit on the western shores, and is still carried on to some extent. Celtic cromlechs and Anglo-Norman castles are frequently to be met with. The chief towns are Galway, Tuam, Loughrea, and Ballinasloe.

II. A town, seaport, and parliamentary borough, and capital of the county, near the head of Galway bay, 117 m. W. of Dublin, with which it is connected by railway; pop. in 1871, 13,184. The greater portion of the town is built upon a tongue of land, bounded E. by Lough Athalia, an arm of the sea, and W. by the Comb river. The other and smaller part is on the opposite bank of the river, and is connected with the former by one wooden and two stone bridges. In the old town the streets are narrow, irregular, and dirty, but in the modern part they are in general spacious, handsome, and cleanly. The chief public edifices are the Queen's college, the collegiate church of St. Nicholas, the Franciscan convent, and two handsome court houses. Galway was formerly the principal emporium of Ireland, and for several centuries enjoyed the monopoly of the trade with Spain. It was then surrounded by walls, of which only a few fragments now exist. The principal exports are corn, flour, kelp, marble, wool, and provisions. The chief imports are timber, wine, salt, coal, hemp, tallow, and iron. The harbor has an extensive line of quays, and is to be connected with Lough Corrib by a canal. It has a floating dock, which admits vessels of 14 ft. draught.

On Mutton island, in front of the harbor, is a lighthouse 33 ft. above high water.