The Hardiman

2012

Designed by Glenn Bolton, Lorna Ryan McKeon, Ailbhe Diskin and Rita Gomes at Neworld

Director: Gary Gleeson

Categories: Identity

Industry: Commercial

Tags: Hotel

Mentioned in:

The Hardiman is one of Galway City’s most iconic buildings, standing tall on Eyre Square. Its location right beside Galway Station has fostered an inextricable link between the hotel and the railway. Since 1852, The Hardiman has been welcoming travellers from far and wide as they step off howling locomotives and into the heart of Galway City.

The brandmark took inspiration from the hand-painted plaques that would've featured on classic locomotives of the late 19th-century. The handwritten flourish is a nod to the hotel’s namesake, James Hardiman, a notable Galwegian and literary figure who recorded the first written history of Galway City.

A suite of icons and stamps were created to mirror those collected by a seasoned traveller. These motifs provide a sense of place. They tell the story of The Hardiman - the deeply-rooted heritage of the West, the travel, the sense of adventure and the timeless elegance of this iconic hotel.