A mile outside Galway the road climbs a hill, where suddenly there burst on the visitor’s sight the towers of Galway, lying in its fair bay and girt about with lakes. On that “Hand to Face Hill”, Buais-le-hé adan, the frequent travelers of an older time, Irish merchants, pilgrims, minstrels, factors of the trading chiefs, were used at the first sight of Galway to cross themselves and bless the town. Under Turlough O’Connor there was a strong fort at Galway, and a fleet in the bay. Munster long fought with Connacht for so important a site. Richard de Burgo built a new fort to mark his dominion; but the O’Brians, lords of the Arran islands, remained the traditional guardians of the bay, and policed it for a tribute of twelve tuns of wine yearly, of connoue and meals given to them every year within the town for two days and two nights, and a promise of aid at all times from the Galway men.
From "The Making of Ireland.."
by A.S. Green
