The Martin Ryan Building was established by the University in 1992 by means of matching funds from a generous private donation by the late Dr. Tony Ryan, founder of Guinness Peat Aviation and Ryanair, and by the European Union STRIDE Operational Programme for Ireland (Regional Development).  The funding enabled the purchase of equipment for marine science and the construction of a neoclassical building, opened in May 1993 by the Hon. Bruce McMillan, then EU Commissioner for Regional Affairs.  It is now a protected structure.

NUI Galway was subsequently funded under the Irish Higher Education Authority’s Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions to construct an Annexe to the building.