During the 16th century, the church was greatly enlarged when two families of the 14 Tribes of Galway (i.e. the Lynches and the Frenches) each financed new side aisles to the nave, generating an almost square interior, while, at the same time, creating its three-roofed exterior profile. When Oliver Cromwell’s troops laid seize to Galway in 1652, it is said that that they used the church to stable their horses.
There is a lot of history tied to this collegiate church, making it a must stop when visiting Galway.