Heritage Week Talks at Museum

Salterbridge House Cappoquin

As part of Heritage Week William Fraher will hold lunch time talks in the Museum on Tuesday 21st and Friday 24th August at 1.00pm.
The topic for the talks will be "A House by the Blackwater", The Chearnley Family of Salterbridge House Cappoquin. Original documents will also be on display.
Talks will last for 30 mins. approx. and admission is free.

Annual Book Sale A Great Success

Great Bargains were Available at the Sale

The Museum Society held their annual fundraising book sale over a five day period from Wednesday 18 July to Sunday 22 July.  The event was again this year held at Garvey's Supervalu on Main Street. The sale surpassed all expectations and the Society are delighted with the money raised which will go towards new exhibition cases, stands and conservation equipment.

A big thank you to Eddie Cantwell, committee member who did trojan work organising the pricing of the books, the venue and overseeing the whole event.
Also thanks Garvey's Supervalu for the use of their premises, Ormonde Cafe and Abbeyside Scouts for their tables, Cait, Jim & Frankie Ryan, Tony Fitzgerald and Ger McCarthy for transporting the books,  the volunteers and staff  who manned the sale.

We are very grateful to Baumann's Jewellers for the beautiful set of Belleek cutlery which they provided for a raffle.  The winner of the raffle was Joanie McGrath, Ballyquiry.

Museum Annual Book Sale

The Museum annual book sale will take place in Garvey's Supermarket from Wednesday 18th July through to Saturday the 21st July 2012. Opening hours are as follows:

Wed/Thur 9.00am -  6.00pm.
 Fri/Sat 9.00am - 9.00pm.

Books are still being accepted and can be handed into the Museum Mon-Fri 9.45am - 5.00pm.
As this is the Museum's main fundraiser for the year we would appreciate your support.

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.