Curated by Etienne Ryan, Michael Keaney, Bill Scanlan and Jim Higgins the museum built up a general folklife, industrial and militia collection.

Clare Consuelo Sheridan (1885–1970), sculptor, journalist, writer and first cousin of Sir Winston Churchill, lived at Comerford House between the years 1948 and 1954.

The building was designed by Ciaran O’Connor and Ger Harvey, architects with the Office of Public Works, who were contracted by the Galway City Council.

The new museum is located along the River Corrib beside the Spanish Arch, a protected monument which formed part of the defensive medieval wall that once surrounded the city of Galway.

The museum began as a collection of medieval stones acquired by artist Claire Sheridan of Comerford House and, over the years expanded to include general folk life, industrial and militia objects.

In April 2007 the new purpose built museum building was opened, located behind the site of Comerford House.

The collection also includes some rare straw items objects relating to traditional Irish rural life Various carvings and architectural fragments which date mainly to the 16th and 17th century Galway City.

Reney is regarded as the last of the Claddagh's boat builders and his building yard was formerly adjacent to the site of the new museum.

A collection of objects relating to 19th and 20th century shops, public houses and business in Galway, including Persse's Whiskey Distillery (Lady Gregory was a member of this family), Young's Hibernian Mineral Water Works, clay pipe factories and a receipt book from one of the Magdalene Launderies or Magdalene asylums.

[5] In addition to the permanent collection, Galway City Museum also retains on loan from a number of sources; The Civic Sword and Mace.

The sword dates from the Charter of King James I, which gave authority in 1610 for the carrying of such a weapon before the mayor.

Consists of a collection of church silverware and textiles from the 18th century, which includes chalices, candlesticks, a host box, an altar frontal and a reliquary casket of St. Ursula made by Richard Joyce.