salthill

The village of Salthill, which was known as "Salt Hill" until 1819,{{cite web|url = https://nationalaquarium.ie/a-history-of-salthill-told-with-story-maps/|website = nationalaquarium.ie|title = A History Of Salthill, Told With Story Maps|accessdate = 27 December 2024}} was originally a separate and "outlying village" of Galway city.{{cite web|url = https://www.gci.ie/galway-guide/attractions/salthill/|website = gci.ie|title = Student Experience Salthill|accessdate = 27 December 2024}}{{cite web|url = https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/102456/salthill-one-of-the-nicest-localities-in-the-kingdom|work = Galway Advertiser|title = Salthill - 'One of the nicest localities in the Kingdom'|date = 16 August 2018|accessdate = 27 December 2024|quote = Salthill was a quiet fishing village, existing independently from Galway town, until the Victorian [period]}} Salthill's promenade opened in 1856.

Salthill became a bathing resort in the 19th century, capitalising on the rising popularity of seaside bathing amongst both pleasure seekers and believers in the medicinal properties of mineral waters.John Cunningham, A town tormented by the sea: Galway, 1790-1914, (Dublin 2004), p. 32 Doctor Robert Rogers Gray opened his artificial medicinal baths in 1831 on the site that today consists of the reclaimed land of Claude Toft Park.Paul McGinley, Salthill: A History, Part 1 (Carrowmore, 2018), p. 133 These baths remained Salthill's primary bathing attraction until a fire burned down the complex in 1870.Paul McGinley, Salthill: A History, Part 1 (Carrowmore, 2018), p. 139

The influx of tourism, brought to Salthill through the baths, created corresponding demand for accommodation. Bathing lodges at Blackrock House and along modern-day Upper Salthill Road represented the higher end of 19th-century accommodation, being described in the Freeman's Journal as "more substantial than showy, and are one and all of comfortable prescence and most cosily placed".Freeman’s Journal, May 23, 1872, p. 3 The buildings of Gort Ard, Lisgorm and St. Mary's survive today as examples of these bathing lodges.

Salthill's first notable hotel was John Gill's Eglinton Hotel. Built in 1860, the hotel was "crowded with tourists"Irish Times, 3 August, 1862. during the summer months of the late 19th century. Several other hotels were developed from 1860 onwards.

The bandstand, in Salthill Park, was built {{circa|1880}}.{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/30323003/salthill-park-salthill-road-upper-lenaboy-galway-co-galway|publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage|website = buildingsofireland.ie|title = Salthill Park, Salthill Road Upper, Lenaboy, Galway, Galway|accessdate = 27 December 2024}}

By the 1870s, as Salthill continued to grow as a village, "four-wheeled 2-horse buses, seating 25 passengers" connected Salthill to Galway City.Alan T. Newham, ‘The Galway and Salthill Horse Tramway’, The Tramway Review, vol. 5, no. 39, 1964, p. 155 In 1877, inspired by the opening of tramways in Dublin and Belfast, William Leadbetter Barrington passed a bill through the British Parliament to open a tramway connecting Salthill to Galway City. Costing roughly £15,000, the tramway officially opened on 1 October 1879.Alan T. Newham, 'The Galway and Salthill Horse Tramway', The Tramway Review, vol. 5, no. 39, 1964, pp. 156-157 It closed in 1918.

Salthill's promenade was further developed in the mid-20th century, and the 'Blackrock Diving Tower' was constructed in 1953.{{cite web|url = https://thisisgalway.ie/the-history-of-the-prom/|website = thisisgalway.ie|title = The History of The Salthill Prom|date = 22 April 2021|accessdate = 27 December 2024}}

The 1970s saw the introduction of a number of casinos and more leisure centres.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

File:Galway Bay from Salthill.jpg from the Promenade, Salthill]]

File:Leisurelands big wheel.JPG

Salthill was, until 2007, home to one of the biggest non-fee paying air shows in Galway, the Salthill Air Show, which took place in June over Galway Bay. The show annually attracted over 100,000 people and generated over €1m in revenue.{{cite web|publisher = RTÉ News | website = rte.ie | date = 4 July 2007 | url = http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0704/airshow.html | title = Huge crowds at Galway air show}}

Salthill was a centre point for the 2008–09 Volvo Ocean Race, as well as the Round-Ireland Powerboat race in 2010.

It is traditional, on Christmas Day, to jump into the sea from Blackrock Diving Tower. This event is now used a fundraiser for local charities in Galway.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

Salthill-Knocknacarra (SKGAA) is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club and fields teams in Gaelic football, Ladies football, hurling and camogie. The club's senior men's team won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship in 2006, beating St. Gall's in the final.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2006/0317/202581-salthill/|title=GAA {{!}} Latest Gaelic Games News, Results & Fixtures | publisher = RTÉ Sport|website=rte.ie|language=en|access-date=2018-09-17}} A team representing the club also won the 2022 Ladies Junior Football title.{{fact|date=March 2024}} Pearse Stadium, one of Galway GAA's two primary stadiums (the other being St Jarlath's Park), is on Dr Mannix Road in Salthill.{{fact|date=March 2024}}

Salthill Devon F.C., the local football team, fields teams in the Galway & District League. They played in the League of Ireland First Division from 2010 to 2013, before merging with Mervue United and Galway United Supporters Trust, the supporters trust of the then defunct Galway United, to form Galway F.C.{{Cite news|url=http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/63631/footballs-comin-home-compromise-reached-as-galway-fc-applies-to-league|title=Football's comin' home — compromise reached as Galway FC applies to league|work=Galway Advertiser|access-date=2018-09-17}}

The Galway Lawn Tennis Club, winner of Irish Tennis Club of the Year in 2002, is located on Threadneedle Road.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

Salthill railway station opened on 1 October 1879 and closed for passenger traffic in January 1918.{{Cite web| title=Salthill station | work=Railscot – Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=24 November 2007}} The nearest station is {{stnlnk|Galway}}.

As of 2022, there is one city bus service, Bus Éireann route 401, which runs to from Salthill to Eyre Square. Bus Éireann also runs the regional bus routes 416 and 424 from Galway's bus station to Connemara, which pass via Salthill.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

The Long Walk and the Salthill promenade are both referenced in the Steve Earle penned tune "Galway Girl".

• Galway Famine Ship Memorial
• Wild Atlantic Way
• List of towns and villages in Ireland

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Category:Beaches of County Galway

Category:Geography of Galway (city)

Category:Seaside resorts in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Tourist attractions in Galway (city)