Caused in part by meteorological conditions sparked off by volcanic activity, food shortages were prevalent in Galway in early 1817.
[6] In January 1817, Mayor Gale believed food riots could be controlled and resisted efforts to invoke the Peace Preservation Act, the equivalent of martial law.
However, by March 1817, Gale was not so confident in maintaining order and in a letter to Dublin Castle, requested the cavalry be sent since mounted troops might more effectively pursue rioters.
[7] Rioters were attacking stores and merchant’s houses as well as removing the sails from ships so that vessels could not carry provisions from the town.
[citation needed] A good harvest and falling market prices finally brought the disturbances of 1817 to an end.