Galway Co. Co. / Co. Secretary's Office / Administration/Munitions, General

Munitions, General file of correspondence between Galway Munitions Committee (Courthouse, Galway), the Ministry of Munitions (32 Nassau Street, Dublin), and Connemara Green Marble Quarries Ltd (24 James’ Street, London. SW) regarding a site on Earl’s Island, Galway for possible additional munitions works at a ‘splendid bonded stores erected by the late H S Persse, situate on the banks of the canal opposite to the small Marble Works which you have already decided to utilise for a small Munitions Factory’ (24 Nov 1916). The Ministry advised that ‘there is no intention of increasing the number of munitions factories in Ireland at present, and that the statements which have recently appeared in the Press on the subject are entirely unauthorised’ (19 Dec 1916).

A shell factory was established at Earl's Island and became a significant employer in the town. The first shell produced in the plant is held by Galway City Museum, an inscription on the shell reads "Galway National Shell Factory, The First Shell Manufactured, 17.3.1917, presented to Martin McDonogh Esq.