John O'Grady donates his Geraldine's Goal Keeper's Jersey to the Museum

John O'Grady was born in 1942 to parents Ned and Maureen O'Grady. He attended Aglish National School. His first employment was with the ESB before he travelled to Newport in Wales and Nottingham where he took up employment. On returning to Ireland, he worked at different jobs in the locality but eventually took up a position with John A Woods at Whitechurch, Cappagh in 1964. He married Helen Mernin from Villierstown in 1965.

Over the years John had many social interests, especially fishing, shooting and card playing but he is best known for his many exploits on the GAA field playing with the Geraldines. He began by playing Minor Hurling and Football with near neighbours Ballinameela. He played with the Geraldines for over 30 years, his first game was in 1958 playing Senior Hurling against Tourin.

John O'Grady & William Fraher 

John won four County Championship and six Western medals with his club and one Western Championship medal with nearby club Villierstown, (his wife's Helen home club). He captained his Junior and Intermediate Hurling teams to two County Championships wins in 1967 and 1976 against the Mollerans and Portlaw, respectively. He also played on two losing Senior Football teams for his club in the County Finals of 1962 and 1969 against Kill and Tramore. On the Inter County front, John captained the Waterford Intermediate Hurling team in 1967 which was defeated by Clare, and played Senior Football Tournament with his county against Tipperary in Dungarvan. On one particular day he had the honour of playing with his two sons, Paul and Brendan, his brother Eddie and hid nephew Harold.

He is affectionately known to all as "the Keeper" or perhaps as "O'Grada" a name conferred on him by Father Pat Fitzgerald P.P.

The Museum is very grateful to John for donating his Goal Keepers Jersey which he wore with pride from 1963 to 1991.

Children's Event Bee Amazed a Tremendous Success

Once again the Festival of Food children's event at the Museum which took place on Saturday last 13th April was a tremendous success.

Darren Moynihan told the fascinating story of the relationship between the honey bee and the bee keeper. The children met some very busy bees and tasted their honey. They also enjoyed colouring and filling in work sheets, and enjoyed some of Flahavan's  Flapjacks and other little treats.

 

Children listening attentively to Darren

 

Darren in his bee keeping suit

 

Young boy modelling some of the safety equipment

worn when bee keeping

 

 

Adults and Children enjoying the event

 

A very enjoyable morning was had by all who attended.

Many thanks to Darren.

 

Childrens Event at Museum for Waterford Festival of Food

Bee Amazed at the Museum

Where: Waterford County Museum, Friary St, Dungarvan
When: Saturday 13th April 12 to 1 pm
Admission: FREE

On Saturday next 13th April, Helen and Darren Moynihan will present their popular children's workshop in the Museum for the Waterford Festival of Food.

"Bee Amazed" will tell the story of the relationship between the honey bee and the bee keeper. Participants will be able to taste the end  product, a wonderful local honey. Meet some real busy bees up-close in their beehive and be captivated by the story of the life of the honey bee as told by Darren. Work and drawing sheets will be available.

This free event will take place at the Waterford County Museum, Friary St, Dungarvan  on Saturday from 12 to 1 pm. All are welcome.

Talk: Dungarvan Workhouse Orphan Girls - "To Hell or Australia" 
by Eddie Cantwell

Where: Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre, Friary St, Dungarvan
When: Wednesday 17th April 8 pm
Admission: €5

On Wednesday 17th April, Eddie Cantwell will give an illustrated talk on the Dungarvan Workhouse Orphan Girls. Between 1848 and 1850 under the Earl Grey scheme over 4,000 orphan girls were removed from workhouses all over Ireland. These girls were aged between 14 and 18. Forty two girls were taken from the Dungarvan Workhouse.

Eddie Cantwell has been researching the Dungarvan Workhouse girls over the past 12 months. He tells us that while many girls left Dungarvan workhouse, some claimed Lismore, Clashmore, Cappoquin and other townlands as their home place. He also informs us that the Dungarvan Orphan girls story will be of special interest to people because the girl's surnames can still be found in the townlands they came from. This was a bitter, desperate and uncompromising period of Ireland's history. Families were torn apart in the worst possible way, as the strongest survived and the weakest perished.

Who were these girls? What became of them? Were they all orphans? To get some answers to these questions come along to the Town Hall Theatre on Wednesday 17th April at 8pm. All are welcome. Subscription €5.

Book Sale
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the 2nd, 3rd & 4th of May our annual book sale will take place at the front entrance to Garvey's SuperValu, Main St., Dungarvan from 9am each day. If you have any books other than magazines that you no longer require, please drop them into the Museum at Friary St.

We regret to say that the Book Launch planned for Thursday 4th April in the Museum has been postponed due to circumstances beyond our control.

Successful Talk by Michael Smith on Ernest Shackleton-A Legend of Antarctic Exploration

On Wednesday February 27th we were delighted to welcome back Michael Smith to talk to the Waterford County Museum Society on Ernest Shackleton-A Legend of Antarctic Exploration

Michael gave a wonderful talk as usual to a very appreciative audience which included the Abbeyside Boys Scouts Troop. The boys were very interested in what he had to say, and when Michael opened the floor to a question and answer session, they showed great enthuasiasm and knowledge on the subject.

Michael's previous books, provided by Easons, were on sale on the night.
Easons also sponsored a voucher for a raffle, congratulations to the lucky winner.

Michael is currently researching a biography of Ernest Skackleton.

 

Michael Smith addressing his audience

Michael Smith signing a copy of his book

&

Abbeyside Boy Scouts 

 

 Jim Shine, Mary Giblin, Eddie Cantwell and Michael Smith

 

 

Joanne Rothwell Talk

 

Our next talk will be given by County Archivist, Joanne Rothwell and has the intriguing title "Love, Lies and Lithographs" on Wednesday 20th March in the Town Hall at 8pm.

 

Baltinglass Students

We recently had a visit by a large group of students from Scoil Chonglais, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow. The reason for their visit was to use the App to explore the history of Dungarvan. The audio trail allows the listener to explore the 1000 year history of the town, it features an interactive map, GPS and 38 photos.

 

 

Students from Scoil Chonglais







Emigration Exhibition

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

An illustrated talk on Sir Ernest Shackleton

An illustrated talk by Michael Smith on Ernest Shackleton will take place in the Town Hall Theatre, Friary St, Dungarvan on Wednesday 27th February at 8pm. All are welcome.
Subscription €5
 

Sir Ernest Shackleton 1874-1922 - A legend of Antarctic exploration was one of the principal figures of the period known as the heroic age of Antartic exploration. He was among the greatest explorers of all time who became a legend on four epic voyages to the Antartic. He marched to within 100 miles of the South Pole in 1909. The Endurance expedition (1914-16), is the most outstanding story from the heroic age of Polar exploration. Skackleton led the dramatic battle to survive after his ship was crushed by the ice. 

The Kildare born Shackleton lived life "like a mighty rushing wind" and was happiest in the ice where he could leave behind his complex private life. Away from his expeditions, Skackleton's life was generally restless and unfulfilling. In his search for rapid pathways to wealth and security, he launched many business ventures and other money making schemes, none of which prospered. His financial affairs were generally muddled; he died heavily in debt. Upon his death, he was lauded in the press, but was thereafter largely forgotten.

Michael Smith is no stranger to resurrecting heroes of the past who have been forgotten with the passage of time. After bringing Tom Crean to the attention of the world, he quickly followed up with a number of best sellers dealing with other Irishmen who have braved the Antarctic. This time he has set his attention on another Irishman, Ernest Shackleton. Michael tells us that this will be a very frank account of Shackleton's life.

Michael is a good friend of the Museum and we are delighted to welcome him back. This is an occasion not to be missed and the author will be available for questions after his talk.

 

The Endurance

 

 

 

Michael Smith