Search Results for 'James Hardiman'

University of Galway has announced the appointment of Monica Crump as University Librarian. Ms Crump becomes the 12th Librarian in the University’s history dating back to 1845.

James Hardiman, the Galway historian, wrote the following in 1820, “This colony has from time immemorial been ruled by one of their own body, periodically elected. This individual, who is dignified with the title of Mayor, in imitation of the head municipal officer of the town, regulates the community according to their own peculiar laws and customs, and settles all their fishery disputes. His decisions are so decisive, and much respected that the parties are seldom known to carry their differences before a legal tribunal, or to trouble the legal magistrates”.

The site of the Augustinian House when the order first came to Galway in 1508 was on the hill we know as Forthill today. Margaret Athy, the wife of the Mayor Stephen Lynch, invited them and she built a church and steeple there too. Her husband was away in Spain and got a shock when he returned to see the finished new building on the hill. The friars moved into a house within the walled city but their church was still between the city and the bay.

Joseph Young was appointed manager of Messrs Thomas Tracey’s Mineral Water Works and Licensed Premises in Mary Street after the death of Thomas Tracey. He later married the niece of Mrs Tracey, Miss Edith O’Connor of Clifden, and Mrs Tracey signed over the works to Joe Young on the marriage.

Harsh winter weather leads to severe famine.

The Irish cloak was a standard 19th century garment worn by women all over the country. It is described as a sleeveless garment reaching to the ankles, open in front and fastened with a hook-and-eye or with ribbons. One width of material goes into the back and a half width into each side. On the shoulder, the material is tightly gauged, and attached to the back of the neck is a large hood which hangs down the back when not in use. The hood, which is lined with satin, silk, or sateen, is made of a rectangular piece of material drawn into pleats at the back. It was constantly used when the cloak was worn, even on hot days, when the hood could be drawn to shield the eyes of the wearer from the sun. The cloak formed very graceful drapery, fell well and folded well, was very elegant and usually large enough to envelop the whole person.

‘After a pantomime rehearsal one year I was asked to lock up as the director was in a hurry. A young lady asked me to allow her stay another while in the old Green Room to finish her costume. I reluctantly agreed, telling her to make sure that the lights and heaters were off before she left.

LOYALIST BILLY Hutchinson, a Belfast city councillor, will be among the readers at the Over The Edge annual non-fiction special on Thursday October 28 at 6.30pm.

The origins of the centuries-old Saturday market are lost in the mists of time. It was always held in front of St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, which was the only open space in the old walled town. Two hundred years ago, James Hardiman, in his history, was writing that, “The town is well supplied with vegetables … the green gardeners cultivate a considerable quantity of ground and keep a considerable supply of remarkable fine-flavoured fruit and vegetables.” At the same time, Hely Dutton, in his survey, was writing, “The vegetable market kept near the Main Guard is generally well supplied, and at reasonable rates; all kinds come to the market washed, by which any imperfection is easily detected. The cabbage raised near the sea side on seaweed is particularly delicious; those who have been used to those cultivated on ground highly manured, cannot form any idea of the difference. There are also, in season, peaches, strawberries, gooseberries, apples, pears etc.”

PERSONAL BELONGINGS of IRA volunteer Seamus Quirk and Fr Michael Griffin; Bronze Age artefacts from Dún Aonghasa; the myths of the River Corrib; and an exploration of Gaelic Ireland - there is a wealth of local and Irish history to be experienced at the Galway City Museum.