The two arches were part of the extension of the city wall from Martin's Tower to the bank of the River Corrib, as a measure to protect the city's quays, which were in the area once known as the Fish Market (now Spanish Parade).

It was constructed during the mayoralty of Wylliam Martin in 1584, being called ceann an bhalla (the head of the wall).

In the 18th century the Eyre family of Eyrecourt, County Galway, created an extension of the quays called The Long Walk and created the arches to allow access from the town to the new quays.

In 1755, the arches were partially destroyed by the tsunami generated by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake.

[1] As a historical landmark, the Spanish Arch appears in several media works set in Galway, including the 1957 film The Rising of the Moon.