Launch of " The Cry of the Curlew" a Great Success

Author Tommy Mooney and Family at the Launch

"The Cry of the Curlew" written by Tommy Mooney of Ardmore and detailing the history of the men of the Déise Brigade  IRA and the War of Independence (1913-1922) was launched in the museum on Friday June 8. On hand to launch the book was the former GAA County President Paddy Joe Ryan with the museum President Nioclás Ó Griofáin opening the proceedings.  Another speaker was well known historian and author Mike Hackett who regaled the audiance with amusing stories.

The Museum Society was delighted with the number attending the launch, the first publication by Tommy. The book is the result of many years of research and is an important contribution to the study of this period in West Waterford. It contains over 300 pages and is illustrated with some very interesting photographs. This is a limited edition and can be purchased in the museum at €20. To view images of the night visit us on facebook

Launch of New Book on The War of Independence in West Waterford by Tommy Mooney

A History of the Men of the Déise Brigade IRA in West Waterford  1913-1922

The Cry of The Curlew is a history of the men of the Déise Brigade IRA in West Waterford 1913-1922. It traces the actions of the War of Independence in West Waterford. Beginning with the founding of the Irish Volunteers in 1913 to the outbreak of the Civil War in June 1922, it should be of interest to many West Waterford families, of whom members were involved in the fight for freedom. A number of those acknowledged in the book were well known to the author and several were family members. The sacrifices that they made with a staunch belief in the righteousness of their cause become more evident from a reading of their history.

There is information in this book also of a more mundane nature, belying the environment of threatened arrest, or perhaps worse in which the volunteers were living. These were ordinary men and women who in different circumstances would never have thought of themselves in any militaristic way.There is a description of how those who sought not to become involved attempted to carry on living  in as normal a way as possible. The police lost the trust and much of the companionship of their communities which led to their eventual demise.

There are accounts also and some diagrams of the major actions carried out by the officers and men of the 2nd West Waterford (or "Déise") Brigade at Ardmore, Piltown, Durrow and the Burgery and an escape of some leading IRA figures from Spike Island Prison in Cork Harbour, engineered by an Ardmore Volunteer.

Few were foolish enough to imagine that by their arms alone they had defeated the British but were aware nonetheless they they had succeeded in disrupting the administration of British rule in West Waterford. The British Government were ultimitely forced to deploy an ever increasing force of troops, including the infamous Black and Tans.

The launch of Tommy's book will take place in the museum on Friday 8 June  at 8.pm. The M.C for the night will be museum President Nioclás Ó Griofáin and well known Waterford County Board Chairman GAA,  P.J Ryan will be on hand to launch the book. All are welcome to attend, to meet Tommy and get a signed copy of this, his first publication. The book will be available to buy in the museum.

Annual Book Sale 2012

We are presently taking books for our annual book sale. All types of books in a good clean condition are accepted. (no magazines). The book sale is one of the museum's main fund raising events and is very well supported each year.

Organiser Eddie Cantwell promises it will be bigger and better this year with great bargains to be had. The sale will be held over a four day period from Wednesday July 18 - Saturday 21 July. The venue as usual will be at Garvey's Super Valu.

  Books can be handed in to the museum any day Monday-Friday between 10.am and 5.pm.

A Drama on the Great Famine to be Performed in Dungarvan

Waterford  County Museum is delighted to have the Hob Nail Boot's Theatre Company perfrom in the Town Hall Theatre on Friday June 15 at 8pm.
The performance "Hunger" was adopted and directed by the well known Irish Poet, Eamon Grennan. This is one of a number of dramatic productions which have been adapted by Eamonn.

 The  performance uses documentary evidence to give audiences a dramatic feel for what has been such a silent and traumatic element in our history known as "An Gorta Mór". This stage performance comes very highly recommended. Hunger is guaranteed to transport you out of your seat and into the period of Ireland's deepest and darkest shame. The great hunger is vividly portrayed by Tegolin Knowland and Séan Coyne. 

Tegolin trained at London's central school of speech and drama where she received Hillman's best actress award, she worked with the Exchange Theatre Company, Druid Theratre and has performed for Amnesty International and UNISF. Séan has a passionate interest in theatre, he is co-founder of the Hob Nail Boot company appearing in numerous productions, he is also co-founder of the children's theatre company "Teoglin's Tales".

Eamonn Grennan has lived for 40 years in America, but spends as much time as he can in the West of Ireland. He has a Ph.D from Harvard. He taught for 30 years in Vassar College teaching poetry, Sharespeare and Irish literature. He teaches in the graduate writing programme of Columbia and New York University. The theatre group also travelled to the US in 2011 where they received rave reviews. Eamonn will travel from the States and be present on the night.

The actors and poet are interested in chatting with the audience after the show. Refreshments of wine, tea and coffee will be served during this mingling period. Tickets for the event are on sale at the Museum, Friary St, Dungarvan for €10.

Return Visit by Cork School

2nd Year Students from the Regina Mundi College Cork

Friday April 20 saw a return visit to the museum by the 2nd year students from the Regina Mundi College in Cork.  The visit was part of their geography studies and this is their second year visiting the Dungarvan area.

They studied St. Augustine's Church Abbeyside, King John's Castle, the Quayside and were also taking a trip to the Cunnigar to study the fauna.

They were very taken by the latest exhibition here in the museum " Co. Waterford, A Commercial History in Photographs 1890-1990. It gave them a great insight to the changes that have taken place over the last century and is sure to help them with their project work.

Sweet Memories, Children's Event a Great Success

Darren Moynihan giving his Pesentation to the Children

The museum was packed to the gills on Saturday for the children's event which took place between the hours of 12 and 1pm.  The event was as ever organised by Helen and DarrenMoynihan

Darren gave a powerpoint presentation on the history of sugar and sweets through the ages and covered Irish sweet factories and local sweet shops.
Helen dressed in the style of local sweet lady Nano Manahan recreated her famous sugar stick to the delight of all the children and adults alike.

A big thank you to Helen, Darren, Emma and Ashling for a very successful event and to the staff members and committee members who helped out.
The museum would also like to thank the Dungarvan Sweet Shop for providing sweets and for the event.

The museum remained open for the afternoon and on Sunday afternoon in conjunction with the festival of food.  On both days the crowds kept on coming and the museum volunteers were kept very busy.  More pictures of the event can be viewed on facebook

Official Opening of "Dungarvan & Co. Waterford A Commercial History In Photographs 1890-1990"

Curator WilliamFraher, Mayor Teresa Wright and President Nioclás Ó Griofáin

The museum's latest exhibition was opened in the museum on Wednesday April 11 by the Town Mayor Teresa Wright.  In her address she praised the work and the professionalism of the museum.

Those attending enjoyed the many beautiful images of the various shop fronts, many of which are no longer in existance today. Curator William Fraher thanked all those attending and thanked the museum staff for all their help in putting the exhibition together and a special thanks to Chloe Keane a transition year student from Ard Scoil na Déise who spent a week sourcing all the images for the exhibition during her work experience in the museum.

The exhibition will be on display throughout the summer.  Visit us  on facebook. to view the photographs from the night.