Gallows Hill Dig Donation

Michael Dunford, Al Eile Stud presenting the cheque on behalf of Michael Ryan to Eddie Cantwell.  Also present Waterford County Museum committee members Chrissy Knight-O'Connor and Sarah Lucas.

A great big thank you to Mr Michael Ryan, Al Eile Stud, Kilgobnet, who kindly gave us a very generous donation towards our Gallows Hill Dig.  This donation has insured that we can press ahead with the second archaeological dig at the mound. 

The week long dig, which again is a community effort, begins on the 17^th of August 2018 and is led by archaeologist Dave Pollock.

Object of the Week - The Literary Digest March 29th 1930

This magazine published in New York has a cover with a reproduction of a painting by Dungarvan born artist Power O'Malley titled: 'The Hill of Muckish'.  

Michael Augustine Power O'Malley was born in Mary Street, Dungarvan on the 19^th of January 1877.  His parents were Michael Power and Bridget Hannigan.  When his father died his mother married Dennis O'Malley and the artist combined the two surnames and signed all his work Power O'Malley.  

He settled in New York where he acquired work as a magazine illustrator.  He returned to Ireland regularly and painted landscapes and people mainly in the West of Ireland.  He had a retrospective show in Waterford City in 1939.  He died in New York on the 3^rd of July 1946 aged 68.

Waterford County Museum has examples of his work such as this magazine cover.

American Visitors at Waterford County Museum July 6th 2018

Sometime back Lynette Stonefeld from the USA contacted Eddie Cantwell.  She had received a series of articles which were written by Eddie about her grandfather Paddy Curran from Glenmore who had carried out a rescue mission at the then ‘County Home’ St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dungarvan in 1922 during which time the hospital was occupied by Free State troops.

Republican Bill Lennon who had been shot at Grange had received surgery and was hospitalised at St. Joseph’s Hospital.  During this time Lennon was also awaiting execution.  Paddy Curran and his company decided to carry out a daring rescue and took the wounded Lennon from the hospital.  Paddy then had to flee the country and go to America.

Among the group that came from the States were grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews from both the USA and Ireland.  The group were entertained by Eddie Cantwell and Nioclás Ó'Griofáin.  Eddie then took the group to St. Joseph's Hospital and recounted the story of the amazing rescue to the extended family.

Eddie Cantwell and Nioclás Ó'Griofáin speaking with the American visitors.

Object of the Week - The Cruise of the Erin's Hope or Gun-Running in '67 by M J O'Mullane, Catholic Truth Society (no date)

This booklet details of the voyage of the Erin's Hope to Ireland in 1867 with a hidden consignment of arms and ammunition for the Fenians.  The two masted square-rigged Brigantine was called the Jacknell and sailed from New York on 13 April 1867.  The ship's captain was Joseph Kavanagh of Passage East.  

On the journey the name was changed to the Erin's Hope.  The ship's manifest listed a cargo of pianos, sewing machines and barrels of wine, but concealed with these were guns and ammunition.  The ship was due to land in Co Mayo but was unable to and proceeded along the south coast eventually setting anchor off Helvick.  A local fishing boat 'The Finin' brought most of the crew ashore but they were arrested soon after and sent for trial.  

In 1957 a commemorative obelisk was unveiled at Helvick by Cathleen Clarke, widow of 1916 leader Tom Clarke, to mark the event.  The monument was recently restored by the local community.

Object of the Week - The Sunny Side of Ireland - How to see it by the Great Southern & Western Railway by John O'Mahony 1902

Guide books such as this were very popular with tourists many of whom came from England by boat and used the train network to get to destinations such as Dublin, Killarney, or the West.  The guide book does not feature Dungarvan but has Lismore, Blackwater, Tramore and Waterford City.  

There is a chapter on cycling holidays which says that June and September are the driest months in Ireland.  It recommends that cyclists call to the nearest Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks as they are the best source on information about what to see.  Chatting to locals was an “interesting and amusing experience - nothing can exceed their civility and courtesy”.  

The guide book recommends lunching in their cottages; excellent tea, homemade bread etc were available for one shilling per head.  They cautioned cyclists to slow down as “country people were rather stupid about getting out of one's way”.

Cruinniú na nÓg National Day of Creativity for Children at Waterford County Museum

On Saturday the 23rd of June 2018 the museum participated in the Cruinniú na nÓg national day of creativity for children.  Everyone who attended thoroughly enjoyed the day and a big thank you to all those who participated.  A lot of organisation went into this event and our thanks to museum committee member Mary Giblin and to our two local artists Kaylee Regan and Tony Hayes for hosting this event.

A sample of the creative process in action.

Object of the Week - A guide to the latest bikes in 1869: 'Velocipedes - Bicycles & Tricycles - How to make and how to use them', London 1869

This book was published the same year that the Dungarvan Ramblers Cycling Club was established in Dungarvan by Richard Edward Brenan (1846-1917).  This was the first such club to be formed in Ireland.  In the same year the club held a four mile bicycle race which Brenan won and the cup which he was presented with is now on display in Waterford County Museum. 

The museum is currently preparing an exhibition titled - 'The Remarkable Brenan's - Cyclists, Photographers, Antiquarians, Artists and Printers'.  This exhibition will be of particular interest to cyclists and those interested in cycling history as we will have two 'penny farthing' bikes on show.  One locally made in the 1870s which has wooden wheels and spokes.  Recent donations of drawings, photographs and papers relating to the Brenan family will be on display for the first time.

If you have any documents, artefacts, photographs relating to this family we would love to hear from you.