BLACKROCK DIVING TOWER

The Blackrock Diving Tower is an iconic landmark of Galway, situated along the picturesque Salthill promenade, and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The tower has three diving boards at different heights, allowing swimmers to plunge into the water below. The Diving Tower has become a ‘must do’ for most visitors to Galway.

The tower has a long and interesting history, dating back to 1885, when a springboard was first erected on the land of Colonel O’Hara, who was not happy about it. He tried to prevent people from accessing the rock, but the Urban Council intervened and secured a public right of way to the bathing area.

The springboard was later replaced by a more elaborate but unsafe structure, however, after the near death of a diver in 1942, the unsafe structure was eventually replaced by the current tower in 1950s, which was designed by Mr B Faherty and built by James Stewart.

The tower was originally a men-only bathing spot, but it became mixed in the 1970s, when women started to swim there too. Today, the tower is a popular attraction for locals and visitors alike, who enjoy the thrill of diving into the sea and the views of Galway Bay. The tower is also a symbol of Galway’s culture and identity, as it has been featured in many paintings, poems and memories of the city.