Tidy Towns 2025

Milltown County Galway – one of Galway’s tidiest towns

Community Initiatives

Discover the various community groups and initiatives that make Milltown special. Get involved and help shape our community’s future.

Tidy Towns

Our award-winning initiative keeping Milltown beautiful and sustainable for future generations.

SCAN

Sustainable Community Action Network working toward environmental protection and sustainability.

GAA

Where community spirit meets sport — uniting all generations and skill levels in the love of the game.

Heritage

Preserving and sharing the rich history and cultural heritage of Milltown and surrounding areas.

About Our Village

The village of Milltown is located on the N17 western corridor close to the Galway-Mayo border, 48km north of Galway City. The Clare River flows east-west through the village on its journey to the Corrib and is spanned by a fine limestone bridge built in 1856 as part of a Famine Relief Scheme. The present village is essentially a Sráid-Bhaile that has developed north and south of the bridge.

In former times the best ford crossing of the river was some fifty metres east of the present bridge and it was here that the De Birminghams built their castle to command and defend the ford. Near the castle, the old town grew up inhabited by castle retainers, tradesmen, stone-masons, smiths, weavers, tailors, horse boys, cowboys and corn millers.

Two mills were constructed along this stretch of the Clare River – O’Grady’s at Milltown and Birmingham’s at Lack- hence the name, the town of the mill or Baile an Mhuilinn. Milltown was called the town of the mill for at least four hundred years. Birmingham’s mill operated until the late 1800’s and O’Grady’s mill closed in the 1950s as a result of the Corrib Drainage Scheme.

The place we now know as Milltown made its first appearance in historical records in 1589. The eminent historian Hubert Knox points out in his History of Mayo that Sir Murrogh O’ Flahery and his army came to attack Edward Birmingham; they stormed the castle, burnt half of Milltown and destroyed the castle’s corn but failed to take the castle after a bloody fight. They then burnt sixteen other villages on their way back to Cong and seized three thousand cattle.

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Community Awards

Discover the various community groups and initiatives that make Milltown special. Get involved and help shape our community’s future.

Tidy Towns

Our award-winning initiative keeping Milltown beautiful and sustainable for future generations.

SCAN

Sustainable Community Action Network working toward environmental protection and sustainability.

GAA

Where community spirit meets sport — uniting all generations and skill levels in the love of the game.

Visit Milltown

Located in East Galway, Milltown is easily accessible from major routes and is just a short drive from Galway City. Our village is surrounded by beautiful countryside, offering plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.

Address
Milltown, County Galway, Ireland

Eircode
H54 D579

Our Key Priorities

Milltown is a forward-thinking, sustainable and ambitious community. 

Natural Environment

Natural Environment

The Clare River is a defining natural feature of Milltown, and its importance for both the village's history and its present-day environment is a key focus.

Heritage & History

Heritage & History

Milltown has a rich history, from its origins as a strategic ford crossing to its development as a milling center. Highlighting this heritage is crucial for both Tidy Towns and fostering community pride.

Strategic Location

Strategic Location

Milltown's location on the N17 western corridor, close to the Galway-Mayo border, is a practical asset.

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News & Update

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Our Vision Workshop

Community-led Development (CLD) is the process of working together to create and achieve locally

Connect With Our Community

Stay updated with the latest news, events, and initiatives in Milltown. Scan the QR code to save our website to your phone or join our WhatsApp community group.

A welcoming community in the heart of Galway, Ireland.

Contact Info

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