Event Details

Dates

03/06/2011 – 03/06/2011

People’s History of Galway Events at Town Hall Theatre, Galway city Museum & Galway Arts Centre From 3rd June 2011

‘If you want to know me you have to take my experiences into account’

  Hannah Mc Ginley ( Galway Traveller Movement)

The Peoples History of Galway is a city wide celebration of the history of Galway as seen by and created by the people of Galway.  The project is a joint initiative of the Town Hall Theatre, Galway City Museum and Galway Arts Centre.   The project opens citywide on Friday 3rd June in Galway Arts Centre and will run over the following week at the Theatre, the following month in Galway Arts Centre and rolled out over several months at Galway City Museum. This initiative can be seen as a starting point, a series of focused events to inspire people and create conversations around what a person’s history can teach others.

Events at Galway Arts Centre include:

Friday 3rd June 6pm

Official Launch

Exhibition by Ceara Conway, Roisín Coyle and Simon Fleming

 Saturday 4th June 11.30am

11.30am Galway Arts Centre

Traditional Herbal Remedy making workshop by Oein DeBhairdúin

www.barefootpavee.blogspot.com

Saturday 11th June from 1pm

1pm Galway Arts Centre ‘The Museum of the Personal Narrative’ a short presentation by Maeve Mulrennan on Castle Ellen House, Athenry

2pm Representing Histories –a discussion led by Ceara Conway.

Informal open discussion centred on the importance of a balanced and equal representation in Public and Civic institutions. Speakers include: Vicky Donnelly from the One World Centre, Nuala Ward chairperson of Amach, Hannah Mc Ginley from the Galway Traveller Movement and social activist Mark Kennedy. The intention and hope for this talk is that we’ll all go home with new thoughts and questions in our minds!

All GAC events are free admission, no booking necessary.

The events at the Town Hall Theatre include

The Glamour of Galway!

On Friday 3 June at 8pm the Theatre will host an evening of archive film, assembled by the Irish Film Institute from the Galway of the 1950’s and early 1960’s.   The programme will include a newsreel compilation (1940s – 60s), The Glamour of Galway (1957) and Inside Ireland: Her Ladyship (1966).  The documentaries and newsreels will uncover a wealth of stories from Galway’s past – island evacuations, air rescues, fishermen’s strikes and ploughing competitions and a selection of travelogues will celebrate the character of the people, the beauty of the landscape, the bustle of the town and the charm of the old Claddagh Village.

The Alternative History of Galway 

On Saturday 4 June at 3pm take part in a walking tour of historic Galway with a difference led by actors Rod Goodall and Helen Gregg.  Relive and take part in some of the iconic events in our city’s history.  Period costume optional! Please note:  numbers are strictly limited and advance booking (tickets: €3) at the Town Hall box office is essential.

Tales From Galway

On Saturday 4 and Sunday 5th June at 8pm  the Theatre will host a devised play celebrating aspects of the people’s history of Galway drawn from tales and stories were taken from a series of reminiscing workshops with a wide variety of older Galway residents.  Workshop participants were encouraged to delve into their past and explore the richness of their youthful experience of growing up in Galway. The result is a uniquely Galwegian event, devised and performed by local actors.

Come and join us on a trip down memory lane and watch us explore what it is like to be a Galwegian caught in the ebb and flow of life over the last fifty years.

Galway Trades Council Centenary

On Wednesday  8th  June at 7.30pm the Theatre marks the centenary of the Galway Trades Council.  The programme will include talks by Theresa Moriarty on Mary Galway of Belfast, a pioneer of women’s trade unionism in Ireland, and  John Cunningham on the establishment of Galway United Trades & Labour Council.  The memoirs of Gilbert Lynch, a prominent Trade Union organiser of the 1920’s and a Labour TD for Galway in 1927, will be launched by Michael D. Higgins.  The evening will conclude with a musical performance by will Kaufman on ‘Woody Guthrie: Hard Times and Hard Travellin’ which links Guthrie songs such as ‘Vigilante Man’ and ‘I Ain’t Got No Home’  with other songs of the Depression Era like ‘Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?’. These renditions, buttressed by  historical commentary, exemplify the blending of music and radical politics that marks Guthrie’s work.  

Booking is now open at the Theatre on 091-569777 or on the web at www.tht.ie

 

Galway City Museum Event:

Saturday, 4th June, 1pm

People’s History – a Taster

Breandán Ó hEaghra, from Galway City Museum, presents a talk and lively discussion about the upcoming exhibitions that will feature as part of the People’s History Project in the Museum.  The afternoon’s talk will feature contributions and stories from the public who have been involved in the Dancehall Days and Film exhibitions as well as a special look at the Galway Races!