Focus on Museum Collection

 Portrait of Rev James Vincent Cleary (1829-1898), Archbishop of Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Oil on canvas. Late 19th century, artist unknown.

James Vincent Cleary was born in Dungarvan on 18th September 1828.  His father Thomas (1792-1871) was a merchant and ship owner of Main Street.  His mother was Margaret O'Brien (1800-1858) who was related to the Fenian, F.X. O'Brien.

He was educated locally at a classical school in Church Street. He studied for the priesthood in Rome and at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. He was ordained on 19 September 1851. He also studied at Salamanca in Spain before returning to Ireland to become a professor in St John’s College, Waterford, where he also served as president of the college from 1873 to 1876. He was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree (DD or STD), by the Catholic University of Ireland. Rev. Cleary was appointed Parish Priest of Dungarvan on 13th February 1876. 

In 1881 he was made Bishop of Kingston when this portrait was made. It originally hung in the convent of the Presentation Sisters in Dungarvan. He died aged 69 on 24 February 1898 and is buried in Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada.

 Portrait of Rev James Vincent Cleary (1829-1898), Archbishop of Kingston, Ontario, Canada

 

National Heritage Week

The Waterford Event Guide for Heritage week 12^th – 20^th August 2023 is now available at the Museum.

Waterford County Museum - Heritage Week Event

 Talk & Exhibition

Dungarvan – ‘The most great and antient honour’

The Story of Dungarvan’s Municipal History 1463-1950 

 By William Fraher

Wednesday 16^th August at 3p.m. Admission Free

The speaker will trace in broad terms the history of town administration from Medieval times to the mid-20th century. The establishing of Burgesses, a Corporation, Town Commissioners, and Urban District Council will be discussed. The talk will look at the people who held office, some of the key issues in Dungarvan during this period, shipping, quay construction, Cunnigar Bridge, waterworks, new Town Park, Swimming Pool, Dungarvan Gas works, new Town Hall, public housing, and more.

To compliment the talk there will be a display of a selection of civic memorabilia. This will be exhibited in a new museum standard display case which has been acquired and supported by the Heritage Council under the community Heritage Grant Scheme 2023.

 

As space is limited places must be booked in advance by contacting the museum at 058-45960 or at info@waterfordmuseum.ie

 

Focus on Museum Collection

 Portrait of Edward O’Dell of Carriglea

Drawing inscribed ‘C Grant, del., Oxford.’ Pencil and watercolour.

The Irish branch of the O’Dells is said to have come from the village of O’Dell in Bedfordshire. In 1678 Charles O’Dell of Castletown McEnery, Co Limerick married Anne, daughter of Sir Richard Osborne of Ballintaylor and built a house called Mount O’Dell, a few miles from Dungarvan. In 1827 John O’ Dell built a new house in a Tudor Gothic style to a design by Daniel Robertson, not far from the old family home at Mount O’Dell.  In 1827 he married Caroline Ambrosia King, daughter of Lieut. Col. Sir Henry King. According to newspapers reports he died in May 1847 aged 45 of Famine fever which he caught while attending Relief Committee meetings in Dungarvan. John had no children, so he left Carriglea to his nephew.

Edward O’Dell (1807-1869) was the brother of John O’Dell (1801-1846) of Carriglea. Edward was educated at Harrow and at Christchurch, Oxford, where this sketch was executed.  Before moving back to Carriglea in 1846 Edward had been on a continental tour and had visited Sicily with John, 2^nd Marquis of Ormonde and was writing an account of this trip. In 1838 Edward married Harriett Ricarda Nugent-Humble of Cloncoskeran House, and they lived in Malta before returning to Carriglea.  Edward held the post of magistrate and had a keen interest in history.

 

This portrait was sketched by C. Grant at Oxford. Little is known of this artist but there is a lithograph based on a portrait by him of Hugh Gough, 1^st Viscount Gough in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Edward O'Dell Carriglea House 1830

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Opening Times - Waterford County Museum

The museum will now be open on Saturdays, starting from the 15^th July to 26^th of August 2023 and the opening times are 11am to 4pm.

Cumann na mBan Book

 The last few copies of this excellent account of the Revolutionary Waterford Women written by Eddie Cantwell and Chrissy Knight O’ Connor can be purchased at the Museum and retails at €25.

Waterford County Museum - Heritage Week Event

 Talk & Exhibition

Dungarvan – ‘The most great and antient honour’

The Story of Dungarvan’s Municipal History 1463-1950 

 By William Fraher

Wednesday 16 August at 3p.m. Admission Free

More details to follow.