The Lynch Memorial
The Lynch Memorial
3.5
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3.5
35 reviews
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May B
Kilkenny, Ireland1,290 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
This is a curious little structure . It is behind the Collegiate church. The Lynchs were a powerful tribe in Galway. Lynch’s Castle not too far away is now a bank building.
I was told by a local that the son of the mayor of Galway was found guilty of murdering a love rival . No-one would execute him, so his father hung him through the windows here . That was supposed to be where the term lynching came from.
Since then ,a Galway expert called Damian told me the story probably isn’t true .But whether you believe it or you don’t , the carved skull and dark stone make it all a bit eerie.
I was told by a local that the son of the mayor of Galway was found guilty of murdering a love rival . No-one would execute him, so his father hung him through the windows here . That was supposed to be where the term lynching came from.
Since then ,a Galway expert called Damian told me the story probably isn’t true .But whether you believe it or you don’t , the carved skull and dark stone make it all a bit eerie.
Written April 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
beas006
Bournemouth, UK844 contributions
Jul 2014 • Solo
Sad story of how The Lord Mayor (also town judge) had to lynch his own son after he murdered another man.
This mock up shows the window in which it carried out, located behind St Nicolas' Church.
This mock up shows the window in which it carried out, located behind St Nicolas' Church.
Written July 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anouska
Leeuwarden, The Netherlands480 contributions
Jan 2011 • Solo
The famous window is set in a stone facade.
There is a local tradition that on of the Galway's former mayors James Lynch FitzStephen, hanged his son from the window of his home in 1493. Lynch's son had murdered a Spainish man in the care of the family.
Lynch's Window stands in Market Street at the side of St. Nicholas' Church. The famous window is set in a stone facade.
There is a local tradition that on of the Galway's former mayors James Lynch FitzStephen, hanged his son from the window of his home in 1493. Lynch's son had murdered a Spainish man in the care of the family.
Lynch's Window stands in Market Street at the side of St. Nicholas' Church. The famous window is set in a stone facade.
Written December 20, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
retireeVancouver
Vancouver, Canada1,809 contributions
Jun 2023
If a tourist guide hadn't pointed out this attraction and the story behind the high glassless window above the walled up door, I would not have been aware of it. The guide related the story about the judge hanging his son from that window. I suppose the eroded plaque underneath the window probably had this story inscribed on it, but it was too high up to be readable by passerbys on the street. There is no recent sign around this attraction with information about that story and its importance to the city. This wall is called Lynchs Memorial Window and is not a window on Lynch's Castle/the bank on the shopping street. Look for this ancient stone wall on Lombard Street, behind the St. Nicholas Collegiate Church - just a short detour from the shopping street and mainly a photo opportunity. Directions on google maps.
Written June 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
grommit35
Oxford, UK241 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
Add this to your walking tour of the city , interesting snap shot into history and won’t include many extra steps to your tour!
Written March 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martz4040
Letchworth Garden City, UK678 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
We hung around and was taught by our guide about this being the spot of numerous hangings by the Lynch family, including their own son, who was found to have murdered a Spanish visitor. Not a lot to see here, but it is good that the memorial is still here hundreds of years later.
Written October 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erik K
Pittsburgh, PA657 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
The Lynch Memorial is the site of the first "lynching" when old man Lynch hung his son from the window after his son was acquitted for murdering a Spaniard that had been staying with them.
It really isn't very much or very special, but if you're into odd history it's worth a minute of your time.
It really isn't very much or very special, but if you're into odd history it's worth a minute of your time.
Written October 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
crowbird
Crowthorne, UK168 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
Mayor of Galway in the 15th Century hangs his condemned son for murder and this memorial marks the spot
Written August 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pglejm
Santa Cruz, CA4,170 contributions
Mar 2014 • Family
Hearing the history of the Lynch family and their importance in the city of Galway throughout decades and decades, the term lynching definitely comes to mind. In the 15th century, Galway Mayor James Lynch, found out that his son had not only done some embezzlement of family monies while being sent to secure a large amount of wine but also placed the blame on and killed a Spaniard merchant in order to have his father think the wrongdoing was not done by him. Mayor Lynch eventually gets a tip of his son's actions and sets out to have him hanged in public. There were roadblocks to the hanging so the Mayor took it upon himself to complete the hanging, or in this case, lynching of his son before anyone could stop him and therefore maintain some sense of integrity to the Lynch name.
Written May 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike B
Mineral, VA1,023 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
If you have a good guide, which we did, the whole Lynch story, and that stop on our walking tour, is pretty cool. Even if the story is stretched a little, it's still a very neat part of an old fort/building, and cool to see as up close as you are on this street.
Written September 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Frequently Asked Questions about The Lynch Memorial
- Hotels near The Lynch Memorial:
- (0.10 mi) Savoy Hostel
- (0.15 mi) Skeffington Arms Hotel
- (0.08 mi) The Two of Clubs
- (0.09 mi) LOCATION! City Loft Apartment. 4 min walk to the Latin Quarter and Eyre Square
- (0.08 mi) Sweet little townhouse in the centre of Galway City. 2 bedrooms/1 bathroom.
- Restaurants near The Lynch Memorial:
- (0.01 mi) Caprice
- (0.01 mi) The Willow Tree Restaurant
- (0.03 mi) Pure Authentic Indian Vegetarian Food
- (0.03 mi) Finnegans
- (0.04 mi) The Chili Shack
The Lynch Memorial Information
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