Author: Séan Ó Duibhir

The Medieval Irish immram and the West of Ireland” by An tOllamh Máirín Ní Dhonnchadha. The west of Ireland, and the Galway coastal region in particular, may stake a special claim to the medieval Irish Voyage Tale or immram (Modern Irish iomramh).  Typically, the seafarers in these Voyage Tales set out on their perilous journeys on the great ocean from somewhere in the west such as Inis Mór or Kinvara, having taken counsel from a holy man such as Éinne of Aran. They see marvels and have http://premier-pharmacy.com/product-category/erectile-dysfunction/ many uncanny experiences on their journeys, and some of them never return home.  For whom, and by whom, were these Voyage Tales written?  how did the reality of seafaring in the west of Ireland intersect with these narratives?  what is their modern legacy?  These and other questions were addressed in a lecture by Máirín Ní Dhonnchadha, professor of Old and Middle Irish at NUI, Galway.… Read the rest

Connemara – Early Monastic Heritage by Rev. Anthony Previté The Talk to Galway Archaeological & Historical Society was an illustrated and abridged survey and background of some of the 56 Early Christian Sites that are to be found on our offshore islands, Connemara and the Corrib Country. Following a varied career in the commercial world Anthony Previté was ordained in 1988 in St Nicholas’ http://healthsavy.com/product/levitra/ Collegiate Church, Galway, where he served as curate until his appointment as rector of Clifden, Dean of Tuam and Archdeacon of Tuam. He has his origins across Co Galway from Oughterard to Merlin Park to Ballinsaloe. He has also lived and worked in England, the West Indies and West Germany, but is now retired and lives in Oughterard.… Read the rest

The History of St. Mary’s College, Galway by Peadar O’Dowd As a contribution to the centenary celebrations of St. Mary’s College, Galway, former past pupil, Peadar O’Dowd, who is editing a history of the college, delivered a lecture entitled, “The History of St. Mary’s College” to the Galway Archaeological & Historical Society on Monday, 8th October. The lecture will covered aspects of St. Mary’s vast contribution to West of Ireland life since its specific foundation as the diocesan http://www.buyambienmed.com/ambien-comparison/ college for Galway in 1912.  The lecture will also include a short history of the initial St. Mary’s College, which operated in West House off St. Helen’s Street, Galway, between 1844 and 1849. Mr. O’Dowd, contributes the heritage column to ‘The Connacht Sentinel’ and is the author of several books on the history of Galway, including his latest volume, ‘The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora – An Illustrated History”.… Read the rest

The History of Galway Docks by Captain Brian Sheridan The talk by Captain Brian Sheridan, Harbour Master, described the history of the development of the harbour over time.  It  concentrated on the earlier designs of the various proposals for Galway docks and discuss why these designs were chosen. The same arguments for the provision of proper dockside facilities stand today as they did 100 years http://www.buyambienmed.com ago.  The presentation, in the Harbour Hotel on Monday April 16th also offered an insight into the importance of the Volvo Ocean Race to Galway in raising our awareness of the wealth that lies in our seas and in refocusing our efforts to make maritime Galway a revenue leader for Ireland’s western seaboard.… Read the rest

John O’Donovan of Slieverue by Professor Michael Herity Professor Herity’s lecture dealt with O’Donovan’s life and achievements, with some reference to Galway. John O’Donovan (1806-61) JOHN O’DONOVAN was born in July 1806. A man of rare ability, he travelled in the years 1834 to 1841 as place-names officer of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland in every one of the 32 counties except Antrim, Tyrone and Cork, deciding the standard spelling of the names that would appear on the new six-inch map.  His resultant informal letters are marked by rare insight and brilliant wit and have been described as “a rich source of hints about Irish social and economic problems, cultural and religious preoccupations, departmental and scholarly http://www.buyambienmed.com/no-prescription-ambien/ relationships, the texture of life in town and countryside, and the hazards of travel in the 1830s.”  Plagued by disabling attacks of rheumatic fever all his adult life, he suffered a last attack in December 1861 and quietly breathed his last on December 10th.… Read the rest

Recent Excavations at Claregalway by Mr. Brian Mac Domhnaill The talk presented the preliminary results of an archaeological excavation undertaken at Claregalway, Co. Galway, on behalf of the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Galway County Council. The works were undertaken in advance of flood relief works on the River Clare. Finds included worked bone, glass, ceramic roof and floor tile, pottery, and range of metal and stone http://premier-pharmacy.com/product-category/anti-anxiety/ artefacts. Brian will outline the excavation process and how ongoing specialist input and scientific dating have contributed to post-excavation analysis and reporting.… Read the rest

History of the Diocese of Galway by Peadar O’Dowd A Lecture entitled, ‘History of the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora’ was delivered by Mr. Peadar O’Dowd to the Galway Archaeological & Historical Society in the Harbour Hotel, Galway on Monday, 14th November, 2011.  The lecture contained some details of the Early Christian Period from Patrician Times with its subsequent emphasis on monastic rather than diocesan authority prior to the Synod of Kells (1152).  The story of subsequent episcopal succession amid the vicissitudes of change from the advent of new religious orders in the aftermath of the Norman invasion, through to the English Reformation and subsequent Penal Times will be discussed. The erection of the wardenship of Galway leading eventually to the initial singular diocese of Galway and its subsequent http://healthsavy.com/product/viagra/ amalgamation with those of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora will also be covered, as will the formation of the present four deaneries and forty-one parishes (sixteen at present within Galway City) in the modern diocese.  The lecture is based on O’Dowd’s current publication entitled, ‘The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora – An Illustrated History’ at present being distributed to churches in the diocese. Mr. O’Dowd is an author of several… Read the rest

October 2011 West Connacht in the eyes of the Bogs engineers 1809-1813 by Dr. Arnold Horner In 1809 the British government appointed commissioners to establish information about the bogs of Ireland and to explore the potential of draining and improving them for cultivation. During the next four years the commissioners divided much of Ireland into districts for each of which an engineer produced a report. Although the bogs were the main focus, many of these reports contain much other interesting information about local conditions. Most of the reports are also accompanied by a series of maps, some of which are of great significance because they show areas thirty years before the first Ordnance Survey maps. This presentation revealed how the western parts of Counties Mayo and Galway were portrayed in the maps and reports of the engineers working for Bogs Commissioners of 1809-13. Four engineers, Richard Griffith, William Bald, J.A. Jones and Alexander http://premier-pharmacy.com/product-category/allergy/ Nimmo respectively reported on districts in north-west Mayo, south and east Mayo, the area east of Lough Corrib and in Connemara. Their commentaries, together with the maps provided for each of the districts except Connemara, offer many incidental insights to local life in west Connacht in… Read the rest

The Rescue of the Passengers and Crew of the Connaught, Oct 7, 1860” by Dr. James Mitchell Dr. Mitchell, a retired lecturer of NUIG, is a patron of the Society and a contributor to its Journal. The steamship Connaught, flagship of The Galway Line, left its home-port of Galway on Tuesday, September 25, 1860, bound for Boston, with 600 persons on board. Early on Sunday, http://premier-pharmacy.com/product-category/anti-fungal/ October 7, with a gale blowing and the sea pouring in through a leak, the ship was found to be on fire. When all hope of survival seemed lost, a brig, the Minnie Schiffer, hove in sight and, having rescued all on board, landed them safely at Boston on Tuesday October 9.… Read the rest

The Census of 1911: the Western Dimension by Dr. Catriona Crowe The lecture looked at Galway city and county in 1911, with reference to selected census returns and contemporary photographs, dealing with political, social and economic life, sport and culture. Catriona Crowe is Head of Special Projects at the National Archives of Ireland. She is Manager of the Irish Census Online Project, which has placed the 1901 and 1911 censuses online free of charge http://healthsavy.com/product/tramadol/ over the last 4 years. She is an Editor of Documents on Irish Foreign Policy, which published its seventh volume, covering the period 1941-45, in November 2010. She is Vice-President of the Irish Labour History Society, and a former President of the Women’s History Association.  She is Chairperson of the Irish Theatre Institute, which promotes and supports Irish theatre and has created an award-winning website of Irish theatre productions.… Read the rest