GALWAY HISTORY
FESTIVAL FÉILE STAIRE NA GAILLIMHE
5-16 MARCH 2019
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Galway history festival 2019
ORGANISATION
Galway History Festival 2019 is organised by Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley and Dr Kevin O’Sullivan of the Department of History at NUI Galway, in collabora-tion with Galway City Council and with the support of Creative Ireland.
CONTACT US
You can get in touch with us via email and on Twit-ter—or check out our website at the address below.
twitter: @historyatgalway
email: [email protected]
web: http://galwayhistoryfestival.wordpress.com
BOOKING
Events are free, except where indicated. Please note that capacity in some venues is limited and seating is unreserved and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
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words & music
Aula Maxima, NUI Galway Thursday, 7 March, 6.30pm
Entry: €10—tickets available in advance from the Dept of History, NUI Galway, or on the door.
GALWAY, SYDNEY AND THE WOBBLY WORLD
Dr John Cunningham (NUI Galway) will discuss the life of Tom Glynn (1881-1934) of Gurteen, Co. Galway. A teenage soldier in the Boer War, Glynn was a strike leader in Johannesburg, a union activist in Vancouver, a labour journalist in Sydney, and one of the ‘Sydney Twelve’, members of the Industrial Workers of the World imprisoned for their vigorous opposition to military conscription in World War I.
Andy Irvine, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and founder of such iconic folk-traditional bands as Sweeney’s Men (1966) and Planxty (1972), will per-form a selection of the songs of the Industrial Work-ers of the World, or ‘Wobbly’ movement, including his own composition ‘Gladiators’ which was inspired by the travails of Tom Glynn and his friend Tom Barker.
Aula Maxima, NUI Galway Thursday, 7 March, 5.30pm
FESTIVAL LAUNCH
Professor Enrico Dal Lago (Head of History, NUI Galway), will introduce the Deputy Mayor of Galway, Cllr Donal Lyons,.
Refreshments will be served.
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discussion
Galway City Museum Friday, 8 March, 6.30pm
GALWAY FOOD: THEN & NOW
Galway has one of the most vibrant food cultures in Ireland. This panel, which includes chef J. P. McMahon (Aniar), food historian Dr Regina Sex-ton (University College Cork), social historian Dr Ciara Breathnach (University of Limerick), and chef and food historian Áine Maguire, will trace the his-tory of food in Galway and the West of Ireland from the eighteenth century to the present.
This event will include free food and wine/beer!
Black Gate Cultural Centre, Francis Street Saturday, 9 March, 10.00am
DEALING WITH IRELAND’S INSTITUTIONAL PAST
In 2014, Catherine Corless came to the public’s at-tention for her painstaking research into the death records at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home. Since 2012, Conall Ó Fathárta has been writing about a variety of issues pertaining to Ireland’s institutional past—from Bessboro Mother and Baby Home to illegal adoptions. They will discuss their research with Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley (NUI Galway), currently involved with the Tuam Home Oral History Project.
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discussion
Black Gate Cultural Centre, Francis Street Saturday, 9 March, 11.15am
REVOLUTION IN GALWAY
The Atlas of the Irish Revolution was the Bord Gáis En-ergy Book of the Year in 2017, it has sold over 20,000 copies to date, and is the basis for the recent three-part series, ‘The Irish Revolution’, on RTÉ. This pan-el, which includes two of the book’s editors, Dr Donal Ó Drisceoil (University College Cork) and Dr John Borgonovo (University College Cork), will ad-dress the history of the Revolution in Galway, with contributions from Dr Tony Varley (NUI Galway) and Dara Folan (NUI Galway).
Black Gate Cultural Centre, Francis Street Saturday, 9 March, 1.30pm
GALWAY ACTIVISTS & ENTHUSIASTS
Galway was a changing and rapidly growing place in the 1970s. It was a period of great innovation in the arts and cultural spheres, alongside upsurges in social activism and political radicalism. Three veterans of this period, Ollie Jennings (Galway Arts Festival), Evelyn Stevens (Galway Family Planning Associa-tion), and Seosamh Ó Cuaig (Gluaiseacht Chearta Sibhialta na Gaeltachta) will discuss their efforts dur-ing that decade, and reflect on changes then and since.
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discussion
Black Gate Cultural Centre, Francis Street Saturday, 9 March, 3.15pm
WHAT USE IS HISTORY IN 2019?
History is rarely out of the news these days: the dec-ade of centenaries; the debate over the future of histo-ry as a subject at Junior Cert level; the use (and abuse) of history by politicians and social commentators in Europe and North America. This panel, which will include contributions from Catríona Crowe (Archivist & Historian), Dr Eoin Daly (NUI Galway) and Professor Niall Ó Dochartaigh (NUI Galway) will debate what role history plays in twenty-first cen-tury society and politics. The panel will be moderated by Dr Kevin O’Sullivan (NUI Galway).
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boutique events
Saturday 9 March, 10.00am Ó MÁILLE’S, HIGH STREET
Anne and Ger Ó Máille tell the story of their family business which has been selling homespun yarns and made-to-measure clothing since 1938.
Saturday 9 March, 10.30am MCCAMBRIDGE’S, SHOP STREET
Natalie McCambridge talks about the development of the ‘high class grocery, provision, wine and spirit es-tablishment’ established by her grandfather, George McCambridge in the 1920s.
On-location discussions co-ordinated by Dr John Cunningham (NUI Galway).
our shop
10-minute talks—plus time for questions! Capacity is limited to 10 people.
Saturday 9 March, 11.00am ANTHONY RYAN’S, SHOP STREET
Anthony Ryan outlines the history of the drapery store established in 1909 by his grandfather Anthony, and his grandmother Katherine.
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boutique events
Saturday 9 March, 5.30pm THE CRANE, SEA ROAD
The Crane Bar is one of Galway’s longest established traditional music venues. Current licensees, Mick Crehan & Maeve Joyce, will talk about the history of their pub, and its role in Galway’s musical culture.
Saturday 9 March, 11.30am POWELL’S, THE FOUR CORNERS, SHOP STREET
Colm Powell traces the evolution of the business ac-quired by his father almost a century ago, while also introducing the historic building in which it is located.
Saturday 9 March, 10.00am ST NICHOLAS’S COLLEGIATE CHURCH
Established in the 14th century, St Nicholas’s is Gal-way’s most historic place of worship. Prof. Steven Ellis, for many years a Churchwarden there, will give a short talk and answer questions on the history of St Nicholas’s, and his association with its Anglican com-munity since his arrival in Galway in the 1970s.
Saturday 9 March, 1.00pm GALWAY CITY LIBRARY
The Galway County Library service was established in 1926 with the financial assistance of the Carnegie Trust. Join Tom Browne, library staff officer, for a short account of the history of the service.
two Galway institutions
15-minute talks—plus time for questions! Capacity is limited to 20 people.
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boutique events
The King’s Head, Ruby Room Saturday 9 March, 4.00pm
GALWAY PUBS OF OLD: AN ILLUSTRATED TALK
Legend has it Oliver Cromwell gifted the building today known as ‘The King’s Head’ as payment for the execution of King Charles I of England. Join Tom Kenny of Kenny’s Bookshop and Gallery as he shares pictures and stories of Galway pubs.
The King’s Head, Ruby Room Saturday 9 March, 6.00pm
Entry: €5 (pay on the door)
THE STORY OF THE LITTLE FISH
The Little Fish was a promising indie band in the Galway music scene’s golden age. Members of the band, Jimmy Fitz and Turlough Moore, will play songs from their repertoire and reminisce about their experiences as up-and-coming rock musicians in the late 1980s and early 1990s—an era when there were no mobile phones or social media.
words & music
One hour plus. Capacity limited to 50 people.
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community events
Westside Library Tuesday, 5 March, 2.00pm
AUGHRIM AND THE BOYNE COMPARED
Dr Pádraig Lenihan (NUI Galway)
Moore Institute, NUI Galway Thursday, 7 March, 9.30am
QUIZ THE HISTORIANS: ADVICE ON PUTTING
TOGETHER A SPECIAL PROJECT
Workshop for Leaving Cert students, led by Dr Barry Houlihan (NUI Galway) and Dr Kevin O’Sullivan (NUI Galway)
To book, contact: [email protected]
Galway City Library Tuesday, 12 March, 6.30pm
THE PROBLEM OF SAINT PATRICK
Professor Dáibhí Ó Cróinín (NUI Galway)
O’Donoghue Centre, NUI Galway Saturday, 16 March, 10.30am
HOW TO INTERVIEW YOUR GRANNY (GRANDAD,
NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOUR, AUNTIE, UNCLE…)
Workshop for primary school pupils, led by Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley (NUI Galway) and Dr Tomás Finn (NUI Galway).
To book, contact: [email protected]
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