university college galway

Sir Robert Peel who gave both London and Ireland their first police forces, introduced a Bill in Parliament to set up the Queen's University of Ireland, consisting of colleges in Galway, Belfast and Cork. Galway's University College opened in 1849 with 68 students.

The Tudor-style building was designed by Joseph Keane and today houses a library containing many rare books and has a collection of modern paintings and art gallery.