The British ambassador, David Reddaway, watched as mayor of Co Galway Councillor Sean Canny and mayor of Galway City Councillor Tom Costello unveiled a plaque in memory of Galway's first World War dead at the weekend.
Earlier the ambassador was guest of honour at an ecumenical service in memory of those who died in Galway Cathedral.
Mr Reddaway said the ceremonies were very symbolic of a community honouring the bravery of so many from Galway who died in the Great War.
"This has been a hugely important event because we are commemorating extraordinary sacrifices, not just by the men who died but by also by their families who, because of historical and political circumstances, could not mourn publicly at the time with the support of the community.
"It is the most marvellous thing that communities now are able to recognise the sacrifices and commemorate these extraordinary deeds by Galwegians in the first World War and I am very honoured to have been invited here," said the ambassador.
"I think these type of ceremonies are hugely important.
"We in the UK have been able to honour the dead of World War One and World War Two, with great sadness of course, but without inhibition.
"Here today in Galway in a sense we have seen history turn a page and the Irish people are now able to look back on that period in their history with the pride that I think it deserves.
"They can publicly recogonise that their grandfathers, great-grandfathers and other family members faced extraordinary hardships and acquited themselves with honour showing amazing bravery."
The Catholic Bishop of Galway, Dr Martin Drennan and the Rev Patrick Towers, Church of Ireland rector of Galway, led the prayers at the Galway Cathedral service.
The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív, Noel Treacy TD, the mayors of the city and county and members of both local authories were led into the cathedral by an Army colour party.