WATERFORD PEOPLE ABROAD -THEIR STORIES IN LETTERS, DIARIES AND PUBLICATIONS
To mark The Gathering Waterford County Museum are mounting an exhibition which aims to tell the story of the emigrant experience as told by Waterford people using a selection of correspondence. Using letters, diaries, newspaper extracts etc., we will focus on a sample of county Waterford people who settled abroad. Each of the stories provide an insight into what life was like for the emigrant travelling to, settling in, and living and working in their adopted country.
If you have any letters, postcards etc,sent from relatives abroad please contact us at the Museum.
Ernest Shackleton Talk
We would like to remind you of our Ilustrated talk on A legend of Antartic Exploration, Ernest Shackleton by Michael Smith.
Wednesday 27th February at 8pm Town Hall Theatre, Friary St Dungarvan.
Subscription €5
Tom Graves R.I.P.
We were sadened to hear of the untimely death of Tom Graves of Ealing, London, recently. Tom was a great supporter of the Museum and followed its development over the years. He made a number of donations including photographs he had taken. In fact one of his photographs, that of Mrs O'Neill of the Coolnagour Dairy was the highlight of our main exhibition last year for many visitors.
Tom was from Knockenpower, Ring and was very proud of his roots. Last year Tom and his sister Rita very generously presented their father Seán's 1916 medal to the museum. We were delighted to have this important addition to our Irish history section. Tom was looking forward to the 1916 commemoration events, but sadly it was not to be.
Seán Graves and fellow Ring man Liam Reagan worked for Donal Ó Buachalla in Maynooth. Ó Buachalla brought Graves and Reagan with him to the G.P.O. in Dublin on Easter Monday 1916. Seán escaped from the building through a tunnel. He returned to Maynooth but was arrested soon after. He was sentenced to two years labour but was released after three months.
He worked in London in the publishing business and retired a few years ago from Weidenfeld & Nicolson where he was involved with picture research. He was particularly interested when books with an Irish historical theme were being published by the firm. In recent times he worked with the Bridgeman Art Library, one of the largest picture archives in the world, founded by Harriet Bridgeman.
Tom was also a volunteer looking after the organic garden at Ealing Abbey.
Tom had a great sense of humour and was always well turned out and never appeared to look his age. We extend our sympathy to his sister Rita and his brother Tony in the U.S. and also to his extended family.
Ar dheis de go raibh a anam.
Nicolas Ó Gríofain, William Fraher, Rita Curran, Tom Graves and Eddie Cantwell at presentation of 1916 medal