Our first photograph today is of Mrs Anne Creaven, or “Ma” Creaven as she was known to generations of students and staff at UCG. She ran the coffee shop, a small intimate split level building which had originally been the College Sports Hall. It could only cater for a small number of people at one time, but student numbers were small in college then.
In the early sixties, it was demolished and a new, much larger building put in its place. There was one constant throughout — Ma Creaven — and whether it was in the original or enlarged version, there was absolutely no doubt as to who was in charge. She was like a sergeant major, she was usually at the till dressed in a tweed suit in winter, in a twin-set in summer. She had a booming voice and if she thought you were dossing or worse, dodging lectures, she would let a roar at you and accuse you in no uncertain terms of whatever misdemeanour you were guilty of. And to make the punishment worse, everyone in the coffee shop and many others throughout the university, heard her accusations as well. She was invariably correct in her assessment and it was not confined to students, lecturers and professors suffered the same indignities.
Her bark was worse than her bite, she was like a second mother for many students, kept a slate for them and kept manners on them. She did not like students drinking but she must have nursed thousands of hangovers in her career. She believed in good behaviour and respect for elders and if you spoke politely to her, she was charming. A genuine hard case was never turned away for the sake of a few pence in the till. She retired in 1975 and died in 1980, but is still remembered with enormous affection by thousands of alumni.
Our second image is of Peter Curran who was in charge of the “Men’s Club” from the late 1920s to the mid 1960s. He was the caretaker there, took care of the snooker room, the table tennis room, the inner sanctum where students played poker and don. He was also in charge of the boat club and lent rowing boats to students who were in love or who were not too pushed about exams. He was a quiet spoken gentleman who showed occasional flashes of steel just to let people know who was in charge He lived over the club. Pete will also be remembered with great affection.
Our third image is of a group of the most unlikely soccer players who represented the staff of UCG in a game against the undergraduates which took place on February 14, 1968 during the first ever “College Week”. The final score in that match depends on who you are talking to. The players are, back row; Kieran Murphy, Tom O’Connor, Hubert McDermott, Gerard Jennings, Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Kieran Dunican. In front are Pete Smith, Pat Fottrell, Michael Hynes, Dan O’Donovan, Seán Lavelle and Dermot Geaney.
These photographs are among some 350 images which are now published online. They are of college staff from the late 19th century to 1995, all of whom were related to UCG in different ways, be they formal occasions, team sports, college activities in the city and county. They record the changing environment on the campus and outside. There is an informative text accompanying each image.
Some of these were in the library, some donated by retired friends, relations, alumni, it is an eclectic mixed bag and often gives one unexpected perspectives in capturing the loved experience of College life. The idea came from Professor Jane Conroy and she and Professor Gerry Jennings, Dr Seamus Mac Mathuna and Dr Jackie Uí Chionnaith came together to make the selection. It is an organic exhibition which they hope will grow and so they welcome contributions from anyone who may have relevant material. If you do have any images of interest, please include names and any background information of interest. The address to send them to is [email protected].
You can view the exhibition at https//exhibitions.library.universityofgalway.ie/s/visual-history-retired-staff/page/welcome
