Williamstown is situated in North East Galway. It is called Baile Liam as Gaeilge. It is divided into 38 villages. It has a population of approximately 1,400 people. William Mc Dermot founded it in 1840. He named the town after himself. There is a church called St. Therese's church. There are two Supermarkets, Drapery shop, two Grocery shops, a Butcher shop, a Post office, a Video Shop, two Hairdressers, an Oil Depot, Farm Supplies, a Restaurant, five Pubs, a Garda station, a Chiropractor and a Doctor surgery. It has a Parish Hall on the outskirts of the town as one travels towards Ballymoe. Here many functions and meetings take place including the senior Citizens party at Christmas. This hall was a School in 1888. It was very run down and a Committee was set up and worked hard and got grants from leaders and decorated it to it's high standard furnished it and it is now the envy of other villages. It has the W.D.C office all the Newsletters are printed weekly for our parish Priest Fr. Des. The G.A.A and the Handball magazine is drawn up and printed monthly. This magazine keeps the locals and those away from home informed of the goings on in our locality.
By Dearbhla Hevican

Wakes: Up to about 1926 wakes in the parish lasted two nights. The priest came to the house on the morning of the funeral and said mass in the kitchen but later that year it was arranged that the dead be removed to church.
Match Making: Up to around 1924 marriages were "Made Matches". When a match was made between a boy and a girl, the fathers would decide on the marriage by the amount of money and land to be exchanged.
Wren Boys: On December 26th {St. Stephens Day } people would go to houses in the parish and dress up and sing  for sweets or money. This is still carried on today.
Bonfire Fire: On June 23rd { St. John's Eve } a couple of houses in each  of villages used to light a big fire. At midnight  everyone who attended  would bring home a piece of coal to bless the house for the new year.
Bridge Ógs: On February 1st {St. Bridget's Day} and 2nd people used to go to houses and sing and disguise themselves, a bit like Wren Boys. This custom still prevails today.

By Dermot Greally

In 1835 there was no such thing as Williamstown. Williamstown was built in 1836. The only reason Williamstown was built was because William Mc Dermott and Ffrench had a fall out and William Mc Dermott said he would build a town of his own. He called it William's town after himself. He told people that who ever built a house in his town that he would give them the timber or wood for the roof and an acre of land to anyone who would build in his town. A lot of people decided they would move to the new town because they had an opportunity to move to new house and to get away from Kilnalag where there were always fights between one neighbour and another. The first houses that were built were called the crescent. There were six houses they each had two bedrooms they are now owned by the Kirranes and Johnny Feeney (stores rooms). The church was originally where the garda barracks is now the barracks was where Morgan's house now stands. In the 1940s and 1950s were the best time for population but it is at one of its highest since the 1950s.
By Pamela Tully