Photo of the Week


Can you identify anyone in this photo?  If so, please let us know.

Stories from Old Newspapers


Dungarvan Observer 1 April 1961

Unveiling of Plaque to Irish Scholar at Bonmahon

‘A plaque will be unveiled at Seafield, Bonmahon at 3p.m. on Monday next, April 3rd, to mark the place where the first college for the teaching of the Irish language was founded in 1830 by Philip Barron.  An appropriate plaque was presented by An Bord Failte to the County Waterford National Monuments Advisory Committee…The unveiling ceremony will be performed by the President of the Gaelic League and the attendance will include a number of the delegates to the Gaelic League Congress which will be held in Waterford city over the Easter weekend. Philip Barron has been described as the first Gaelic Leaguer and born in 1802.

The Irish college which he founded is said to have been wantonly destroyed by a local family who harbored a sense of grievance against the Barron family.  As a result of his political activities Philip Barron had to leave Ireland and live in France.  He died in 1860’.  
  
Aine Ui Fhoghlu gave a comprehensive presentation to the Museum Society on Philip Barron.  The plaque is no longer in place and it is now time that a new plaque be erected in the vicinity to celebrate his achievement.

Tuesday 29th October 2019 - Event in SGC Cinema



“Leonardo The Works” 
– Leonardo da Vinci as you have never seen him before

Leonardo da Vinci is acclaimed as the world's favourite artist.  Many TV shows and feature films have showcased his extraordinary genius but often not examined closely enough is the most crucial element of all: his art. Leonardo's peerless paintings and drawings will be the focus of “Leonardo: The Works” as EXHIBITION ON SCREEN presents every single attributed painting in Ultra HD quality.  This has never been seen before on the big screen.  Key works include: The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Lady with an Ermine, Ginevra de Benci, Madonna Litta, Virgin of the Rocks and more than a dozen others.  This film also looks afresh at Leonardo's life, his inventiveness, his sculptural skills, his military foresight and his ability to navigate the treacherous politics of the day through the prism of his art.  To be released on the 500th anniversary of his death, this is the definitive film about Leonardo: the first to truly tell the whole story.  This is a show not to be missed.  

Tickets at a reduced rate are available at the Museum on Friary Street, courtesy of Eugene Tobin, SGC Dungarvan. 

Venue:               SGC Cinema Dungarvan

Date:                 Tuesday 29th October 2019

Time:                 7.30 p.m.

Thursday 31st October 2019 - Children's Halloween Event in the Museum


FREE HALLOWEEN CHILDREN’S EVENT

Waterford County Museum invite Children
and their parents to participate in a free event




Make your own Halloween Mask!


 Venue:    Waterford County Museum, Dungarvan

 Date:   Thursday 31st October 2019

Time:          11a.m. – 1p.m.   
  
  
ADMISSION FREE!


Age 8+ years

All children must be accompanied by an adult

Materials will be provided.

Spaces on this event are limited and participants are required to book in advance.

Contact us by email:   info@waterfordmuseum.ie

Or phone: (058) 45960




Wednesday 30th October 2019 - A Talk by William Fraher in Dungarvan Sailing Club

Wretched and Unsanitary - Working Class Housing in Dungarvan
 1800 - 1970

William Fraher
A Talk by William Fraher

This is the first detailed research to be undertaken on the type of houses in which the poorer citizens of  Dungarvan lived from the 19th to the 20th century.  Descriptions of Dungarvan by 18th and 19th century travel writers comment on the amount of 'cabins' to be seen all around the town especially on the roads and streets leading out from the centre.  These had thatched roofs and stone or mud walls with one, or at the most, two rooms. The shocking aspect is the number of people who occupied these tiny spaces - sometimes eight to twelve people. Houses were built by the Marquis of Waterford and the Duke of Devonshire in the1820s as part of the activities surrounding the 1826 election. These houses were solidly built and appear to have had slate roofs but were still being lived in up until the 1950s and 1960s when they had become totally unsuitable.  Sometimes the slum dwellings were owned by members of councils which meant that nothing happened apart from issuing an 
order to the landlord to the repair the property. Willie will also talk about the new housing developments initiated by the council -Loughmore, Cathal Brugha Place, Dr Caseyville and Murphy Place. These were a vast improvement on the slum dwellings but they were not without controversy. Issues with sewage, high rents, faulty doors and windows, and leaks were reported in the local papers. The Murphy Place development was one of the first in Ireland to employ direct labour.


Tobin brothers at Shandon Street, Dungarvan ( Note the half door).

William Fraher is by now recognised as the foremost historian in Dungarvan. His contribution to the history of the town and surrounding area is unequalled. This talk takes place at the wonderful Dungarvan Sailing Club venue on the quay, a location for which we are very grateful.

To hear more - come along, take a seat and enjoy a drink, as you listen to this illustrated talk on Wed 30th October at 8p.m. There will be a €5 entrance fee, and as usual, all are welcome.


Venue:          Dungarvan Sailing Club, Davitt's Quay, Dungarvan.

Date:             Wednesday 30th October 2019.

Time:            8 p.m.

Admission:   €5

Photo of the Week

Can you identify anyone in this photo taken in Abbeyside Tennis Club in 1950s?
 If so, please let us know

Stories from Old Newspapers


Dungarvan Observer 4 February 1961

‘Jack Aranson and Mary Rose McMaster have returned to Ireland after five years in America.  During that time, they appeared in several plays in New York, on T.V. and toured the States extensively mainly in a Shakespeare programme. Orson Welles with whom Jack Aranson appeared in ‘King Lear’ on Broadway, has personally given him the sole rights of his adaption of Moby Dick.We learn this Company will play in Dungarvan on the 12th and 14th of February and have stood down on Monday night 13th so that the Dungarvan Harriers patrons could have the amenities of the Friary Hall.  What a sporting and noble gesture’.

Mary Rose McMaster (1926-2018) was the daughter of actor Anew McMaster.  She married American actor Jack Aranson and they founded a production company.  Her biography of her father was published in 2018 – A Life Remembered: A Memoir of Anew McMaster.  Anew McMaster appeared in many dramatic productions in Dungarvan.  Mary Rose died in her 90s in America.



17th October 2019 - "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Live in SGC Cinema Dungarvan



The Theatre becomes the forest – a dream world of flying fairies, contagious frogs and moonlight revels.  This comes live from the Bridge Theatre and stars Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones) & Oliver Chris, (Green Wing) with a full supporting celebrity cast.

Tickets are now available at a reduced rate at the Museum on Friary Street thanks to Eugene Tobin, SGC Dungarvan.  This very highly rated show and comes live to SGC Dungarvan at 8 p.m. on 17th October 2019.  You are advised to purchase your tickets early.

It should be noted that the Bridge Theatre, where the show is running, requests that under 16s be accompanied by an adult.


"Butlerstown Revisted" - Launch of new Book


“Butlerstown Revisited” was launched recently.  It is the second volume published by Meitheal Staire Butlerstown.  There are many articles in it on local people, places and events, including one on Claude Chavasse, whose portrait is on display in the museum, kindly given by ‘The Friends of the National Collections’.

This attractively produced book is on sale for €12.00.



Stories from Old Newspapers


Waterford News & Star 25/5/1923

Mr. James Larkin in Dungarvan

Mr. James Larkin addressed a large Labour meeting on the Square, Dungarvan, on Wednesday.  The Labourers marched in a body from the Town Hall, a piper playing, the men proceeding four deep.  Mr. Butler T.D. presided, and introduced the speakers, among whom were Messrs T. Ryan, Waterford, and Organiser Baird, Belfast.

Mr. Larkin who was received with cheers, recounted the early efforts of his to forward the cause of the labourers in England, Scotland, and Wales, also in Belfast, and then in Dublin. In speaking of Belfast, he said there were 870 men, 320 women and 139 children shot down by special constables.  Referring to the political situation, he said that Mr. de Valera made certain proposals and the Premier replied: he said the republicans must swear allegiance to the English King.  But many Kings had lost their jobs, and King George may lose his, too, before very long.  In the Dail there were 36 men, and of these, twenty hold office, and this without getting back to their constituents.  The farmers made millions by the blood lust during the war, and they want to cut down the men’s wages now.  There were 85 million pounds in the banks, but the labourers had none of it.  He called on them to have peace, to strengthen the union, and work for a worker’s republic.

Photo of the Week

Do you recognise anyone in this photo of three ladies enjoying a picnic on Clonea Beach c1950s?
If so, please let us know.

8th October 2019 - Royal Opera: Don Giovanni Live in SGC Cinema




We have another  special for our Museum members in 
conjunction with SGC Cinema.  Members can avail of reduced rates to 
events courtesy of Mr. Eugene Tobin, Manager SGC Cinema, Dungarvan. 

It is advisable to book your tickets in advance for these events. 

Members can call to the museum to pick up their concession tickets. 

The event is: Royal Opera: Don Giovanni - Live 

It will be shown in SGC Dungarvan on Tuesday 8th October 2019 at 6.45 p.m. 


Stories from Old Newspapers

Dungarvan Leader 11 February 1950

Tom Tobin, writer of the Spotlight column in the Leader received a letter from Thomas D McCue (native of Abbeyside and brother of Jack McCue) in San Francisco relating to the first Irish ship flying the tricolor to pass through the Golden Gate:

‘On Thursday morning January 27 I witnessed one of the greatest thrills of my exiled life when the first Irish ship ‘Irish Plane’ first to fly the Irish flag, sailed through the Golden Gate…Later in the day I had the pleasure of visiting the ship and meeting a young man from Dungarvan, Michael Shalloe, who is a cadet aboard her…In a very short time my son Capt James McCue and myself had him travelling around San Francisco seeing the sights.  Later…my daughters, Mrs James P Moloney and Mrs Frank J Mealy, known in Abbeyside as Margaret and Dorothy McCue entertained our visitor to dinner.  My sister Aileen McCue enjoyed Michael’s visit very much as she knew his father’.

The ship was built in England for Irish Shipping Ltd and the captain was Patrick Frank Kelly Jr. Also at the Official welcome were the Irish consul, Patrick Hughes, and Phil O’Rourke the head of the radio operators union and the Irish Freedom League. 

Photo of the Week

Can you identify anyone in this photo of a group of tennis players at the tennis courts, Coolagh Road, Abbeyside, c 1950?  If so, please let us know.

Thursday 24th October 2019 - Museum A.G.M.


The Museum A.G.M. will take place in the museum on Friary Street, Dungarvan on Thursday 24th October at 8 p.m. 

We look forward to meeting current and new members on the night.