Peadar O’Dowd Memorial Waterways Tour

As part of Heritage Week 2025, Galway Civic Trust / Dúchas na Gaillimhe is delighted to announce the launch of the Peadar O’Dowd Memorial Waterways Tour — a brand new, free weekly guided walking tour celebrating the unique history, architecture, and cultural heritage of Galway’s waterways.

The inaugural tour takes place on Wednesday, 20 August 2025 at 2:00 PM, beginning at the Hall of the Red Earl, and will be a featured event of the Peadar O’Dowd Memorial Day. Following this launch, the tour will continue every Wednesday at 2:00 PM, starting from the same location.

Led by local historian Ian Brophy, this engaging walking tour will explore Galway’s historic canals, bridges, mills, and water-powered infrastructure — much of which was preserved thanks to the dedication and advocacy of the late Peadar O’Dowd.

Peadar was a founding member of Galway Civic Trust and a lifelong champion of Galway’s waterways. In 1967, he established the Galway Waterways Preservation Society, successfully campaigning to save the Eglinton Canal and Claddagh Basin from destruction. His vision and work laid the groundwork for the continued appreciation and protection of Galway’s water-based heritage.

This weekly tour honours Peadar’s legacy by sharing his passion with the public — and by keeping his mission alive: to educate, protect, and celebrate Galway’s living history.