Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7287Criminal damage (racist graffiti) · Co. Galway

Gardaí appeal for witnesses after racist graffiti on Galway City Museum display

Racial slurs, including the N word, and the word 'monkey' were spray-painted on a photography exhibition beside Galway City Museum at Spanish Parade in Galway city centre between Friday 13 and Friday 20 October 2023. The exhibition shows photographs of hip hop artists including the Notorious BIG, Miss Lauryn Hill and Nas. No individual victim is named and no suspect has been identified in the reports. Gardaí have appealed for witnesses, asking anyone with information to contact Galway Garda Station on 091-538000, and no arrest had been reported as of 24 October 2023.

  1. Reported24 Oct
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Racial slurs, including the N word, were spray-painted on a photography exhibition in Galway city centre.
  • The word 'monkey' was also written on the display; one source reports it as 'monkeys'.
Where
The exhibition is beside Galway City Museum at Spanish Parade.
When
The damage occurred between Friday 13 and Friday 20 October 2023.
Other details
  • The display shows photographs of hip hop artists including the Notorious BIG, Miss Lauryn Hill and Nas, spanning the early 1990s to 2010s.
  • The incident was reported by galwaybeo.ie on 24 October 2023.
Charges
The incident is being investigated as criminal damage with racist graffiti.
Investigation
  • Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to the incident.
  • Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is asked to contact Galway Garda Station on 091-538000.
  • No arrest had been reported in the articles as of 24 October 2023.
7 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatRacial slurs were spray-painted on an art display in Galway city centre. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whatThe word 'monkey' was also written on the display. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whereThe graffiti was on a photography exhibition beside Galway City Museum at Spanish Parade. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whenThe damage occurred between Friday 13 and Friday 20 October 2023. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses to the incident. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • investigationGardaí ask anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to contact Galway Garda Station on 091-538000. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherThe display shows photographs of hip hop artists such as the Notorious BIG, Miss Lauryn Hill and Nas. (galwaybeo.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Oct2023
    Reportedgalwaybeo.ie, first report
    Galway gardai investigate disgusting damage as popular spot sprayed with N word

    Reports the graffiti on the photography display, the racist words used, the date range of the damage, and a Garda appeal for witnesses and information. Other Galway incidents in the article (van hubcaps, scooter theft, shed break-in, cyclist collision) are mentioned only in passing and are not recorded.