A new photography exhibition at Galway City Museum brings to life the hidden world that lurks beneath the waters of Galway Bay.
An Tír Faoi Thoinn – The Land Beneath the Waves invites visitors into an underwater world that is rarely seen but lies just beyond Galway’s shoreline.
The exhibition celebrates Galway’s enduring connection to the sea, a relationship that has shaped the city’s identity from the era of the Spanish Armada and the storied Galway Hookers to Ireland’s modern national marine research fleet.
Featuring the mesmerising work of the late Dr John Costelloe—marine biologist, passionate diver, and gifted underwater photographer—the exhibition offers a breathtaking look at the delicate and diverse ecosystems of Galway Bay.
Director of Galway City Museum, Adam Stoneman said, “John Costelloe’s lifelong devotion to Ireland’s underwater world, paired with his sharp photographic eye, has created an extraordinary visual legacy that continues to inspire new generations to explore, understand and protect the marine environment.”
“We are honoured to share John Costelloe’s remarkable work and proud to collaborate with the Marine Institute to bring the wonders of our ocean world into the heart of the city. This exhibition invites visitors of all ages to look beneath the waves and discover a story that is uniquely Galway’s.”
“An Tír Faoi Thoinn reveals the hidden beauty and biodiversity of Galway Bay, reminding us that our marine environment is significant both globally and locally – as an intrinsic part of our heritage and identity.”
An Tír Faoi Thoinn – The Land Beneath the Waves is supported by the Marine Institute in collaboration with Galway City Museum.
Complementing the photography are sculptural works by Aisling Roche, Andrea Spencer, and John Coll, highlighting the power of the underwater world as a source of creative inspiration as well as scientific discovery.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Rick Officer, CEO of the Marine Institute, said, “Galway is, and always has been, a city shaped by the sea — from the generations of fishers who depended on its tides to the scientists who now study its depths and its creatures.”
“An Tír Faoi Thoinn beautifully captures this connection by revealing the extraordinary marine world that lies just beneath our feet.”
“Galway’s past, present, and future are tied to the sea. John Costelloe’s work reminds us that Galway Bay is not only a place of heritage, but a living, breathing ecosystem central to Ireland’s future.”
“As Ireland’s national agency for marine research, the Marine Institute is proud to support an exhibition that inspires curiosity, deepens understanding, and encourages us all to protect the ocean that sustains us.”
The exhibition opened last month and runs to June 2026. It will be accompanied by a programme of talks, workshops, and family-friendly events.
