Liam Mellows statue by sourbugger
At the top of Eyre square, by the taxi rank stands a statue to Liam Mellows. As one of the leaders of the 1916 uprising, he is most clearly remembered for leading an abortive attempt on the Royal Irish Constabulary buildings in Oranmore. He was imprisoned by the English at one point, but escaped from Reading Jail to lead the IRA's western division.He met his end by execution. This was ordered by the Irish Free state, a semi-independent body that presided over Ireland and a civil war before full independence came in 1923.
Apart from the historical associations, the site also seems to be the site of the towns gallows. It is marked as such on the famous galway may of 1651. during recent excavations three bodies were found by the staatue. They seems quite intact, apart from the fact they had no heads. Theses were later found a few meters to the north of the statue. Their heads were presumbly severed after being hanged on the gallows, and then roughly buried.
