Part 1 of a 2 part documentary exploring and celebrating the rich history of iron and metalwork in Ballinasloe and its hinterland. Narrated by Sally-Ann Barrett and produced by Freeway Media and Communications. 'Forged in Fire: Ballinasloe's history of iron and metalwork' is a collaboration between Galway County Heritage Office, Ballinasloe & District Heritage Society and the artist collective Group 8. It is funded by Creative Ireland. Project Leads: Conor Johnston, Chairperson of Ballinasloe & District Heritage Society, Zara Little-Campbell, Chairperson of Group 8 and Marie Mannion, Galway County Heritage Officer Steering Group: Zara Little-Campbell, Conor Johnston, Marie Mannion - Galway County Heritage Officer,  Bernie Doherty - Galway Community Archaeologist, Dr. Christy Cunniffe, Padraic Kilduff, Cathal Lucas, Evelyn Donnellan, Oliver Donnellan, Emma Laffey, Joyce Little 'Forged in Fire: Ballinasloe's history of iron and metalwork' is a collaboration between Galway County Heritage Office, Ballinasloe & District Heritage Society and the artist collective Group 8. It is funded by Creative Ireland. Thanks to all the contributors in the meitheal.

At a kitchen table in Roscahill, Co. Galway locals gather to remember the contributions of the local blacksmiths through stories and song.    This project was developed by the Heritage Office, Galway County Council in partnership with Oughterard Heritage Group. Project Managers: Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council and Antoinette Lydon, Oughterard Heritage Group. Project Steering Group: Antoinette Lydon, Pat McDonagh, Oughterard Heritage Group and Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council, Executive Producer and Editor: The series was produced, presented and edited by Sally-Ann Barrett of Freeway Media and published by GK Media Limited. Contributors: Peter Tierney, Frank Osbourne, Pat Joyce, Member of Rosscahill Community. Administrative Support: Valerie M Kelly, Creative Ireland Manager, Galway County Council, Gina O’ Shaughnessy, ASO, Galway County Council, Martina Creaven, SSO, Galway County Council, Ita Gordon, Clerical Officer, Galway County Council, and Anne Power, SSO Galway County Council. Funding and Support: This project was funded by Creative Ireland and Galway County Council. 

From Camp Street in Oughterard to nearby Moycullen, Co.Galway Frank Osbourne and Pat Joyce share their memories of the blacksmiths Patrick Walsh and John Lydon.  This project was developed by the Heritage Office, Galway County Council in partnership with Oughterard Heritage Group. Project Managers: Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council and Antoinette Lydon, Oughterard Heritage Group. Project Steering Group: Antoinette Lydon, Pat McDonagh, Oughterard Heritage Group and Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council, Executive Producer and Editor: The series was produced, presented and edited by Sally-Ann Barrett of Freeway Media and published by GK Media Limited. Contributors: Peter Tierney, Frank Osbourne, Pat Joyce, Member of Rosscahill Community. Administrative Support: Valerie M Kelly, Creative Ireland Manager, Galway County Council, Gina O’ Shaughnessy, ASO, Galway County Council, Martina Creaven, SSO, Galway County Council, Ita Gordon, Clerical Officer, Galway County Council, and Anne Power, SSO Galway County Council. Funding and Support: This project was funded by Creative Ireland and Galway County Council.

Who were the local blacksmiths of Oughterard and the surrounding areas? Members of Oughterard Heritage Group in Co. Galway hear the recollections of Peter Tierney who shares his memories of the local forges.This project was developed by the Heritage Office, Galway County Council in partnership with Oughterard Heritage Group. Project Managers: Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council and Antoinette Lydon, Oughterard Heritage Group. Project Steering Group: Antoinette Lydon, Pat McDonagh, Oughterard Heritage Group and Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council, Executive Producer and Editor: The series was produced, presented and edited by Sally-Ann Barrett of Freeway Media and published by GK Media Limited. Contributors: Peter Tierney, Frank Osbourne, Pat Joyce, Member of Rosscahill Community. Administrative Support: Valerie M Kelly, Creative Ireland Manager, Galway County Council, Gina O’ Shaughnessy, ASO, Galway County Council, Martina Creaven, SSO, Galway County Council, Ita Gordon, Clerical Officer, Galway County Council, and Anne Power, SSO Galway County Council. Funding and Support: This project was funded by Creative Ireland and Galway County Council. 

Dr. Christy Cunniffe meets Sally Ann Barrett at Abbeygormican, a twelfth century Augustinian Abbey which got a new lease of life thanks to The Community Monuments Fund, provided by National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and administered through Galway County Council.

Sally Ann Barrett meets Kilcreevanty Heritage Group members who were successful in funding a Conservation and Management Plan for Kilcreevanty Graveyard through the Community Monuments Fund.

Sally-Ann Barrett speaks to Martina Donnellan and Pat Roberts about recent conservation works at St. Kerrills Abbey, Cloonkeenkerrill. Local passion and tradition is evident for this iconic heritage site in East Galway, now stabilised thanks to the Community Monuments Funding, National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Sally-Ann Barrett meets the people behind Kilboght Graveyard Restoration and Heritage Group. She also speaks to ecclesiastical expert Dr. Christy Cunniffe and Galway Community Archaeologist Bernie Doherty.

The double holy well in Baile an Tobar, Corr na Móna is dedicated to Muire and Feichín.  On a beautiful summers evening on August 15th 2024, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, Mass was celebrated at the well with the children from the local school providing music.  In this podcast Máirtín Davy interviews several of the people from the large crowd that were in attendance, about the importance of the well, their memories of past pilgrimages and the saints associated with the well. Interviewer: Máirtín Davy          Recorder: Barbara Nic DhonnachaPodchraoladh 6: Baile an Tobair, Corr na MónaTá tobar beannaithe dúbailte Bhaile an Tobair, Corr na Móna tiomnaithe do Mhuire agus do Naomh Feichín.  Rinneadh Aifreann a cheiliúradh ag an tobar ar Lá Fhéile Muire Mór i bhFómhar na bliana seo, an 15 Lúnasa 2024, lá breá samhraidh a bhí ann agus ba iad daltaí na scoile áitiúla a chur ceol ar fáil don searmanas.   Sa phodchraoladh seo, cuirfidh Máirtín Davy agallamh ar roinnt daoine ón slua mór a bhí i láthair, faoi thábhacht an tobair, faoina gcuimhní cinn ar oilithreachtaí san am atá caite agus faoin dá naomh a luaitear leis an tobar. Agallóir: Máirtín Davy    Taifeadóir: Barbara Nic Dhonnacha

July 26th is pattern day at Tobar Naomh Anna in Tír an Fhia.  A number of pilgrims to the well are interviewed and they tell us about the devotion to the well, the pattern practiced here and cures which are said to have been obtained from the water. Interviewer: Máirtín Davy          Recorder: Barbara Nic DhonnachaPodchraoladh 5: Tobar Naomh Anna, Tír an Fhia, Ceantar na nOileánIs é an 26 Iúil lá an phátrúin ag Tobar Naomh Anna i dTír an Fhia.  Cuirfear agallamh ar roinnt de na daoine atá ar oilithreacht go dtí an tobar agus inseoidh siad dúinn faoin ngean atá acu ar an áit, faoin bpátrúnacht a bhaineann leis agus an leigheas a deirtear atá san uisce. Agallóir: Máirtín Davy    Taifeadóir: Barbara Nic Dhonnacha

The life of St Kerrill, his connections with St Patrick and the importance of St Kerrill’s Holy Well in the Christianisation of the ancient Kingdom of Sogáin are all detailed by Dr Joe Mannion.  John Corbett recounts the importance of St Kerrill’s Day in the locality, the annual pilgrimage to the Holy Well and the belief in the power of the water against lightning strikes. Martina Donnellan recites poetry written locally about St. Kerrill. Interviewees: Dr Joe Mannion, John Corbett and Martina Donnellan. Interviewer Sally-Ann Barrett.Podchraoladh 3: Tobar Naomh Caireall, Gort na Lon Thuaidh, GoirtínTabharfaidh an Dr Joe Mannion mionléargas ar shaol Naomh Caireall, ar an mbaint a bhí aige le Naomh Pádraig agus ar an tábhacht a bhain le Tobair Naomh Caireall nuair a bhí muintir Thuath ársa Shogáin á dtabhairt chun na Críostaíochta.   Tabharfaidh John Corbett cuntas ar thábhacht Lá Fhéile Caireall do phobal na háite, ar an oilithreacht bhliaintúil a thugtar ar an Tobar Beannaithe agus ar an gcreideamh atá ann go dtugann uisce an tobair cosaint ar lasracha. Déarfaidh Martina Donnellan dán áitiúil a scríobhadh faoi Naomh Caireall. Agallaithe: An Dr Joe Mannion, John Corbett agus Martina Donnellan. Agallóir: Sally-Ann Barrett.

Peter Dolan describes the historic sites and landscape features that surround St Cronan’s Well in Mannin townland. He tells us about the St John’s Eve traditions, cures associated with the water and the devotional practices past and present at the well.Interviewee: Peter Dolan.  Interviewer: Sally-Ann Barrett Podchraoladh 4: Tobar Chronáin, Manainn, CreachmhaoilDéanfaidh Peter Dolan cur síos ar na láithreacha stairiúla agus ar na gnéithe atá sa tírdhreach timpeall Tobar Chronáin i mbaile fearainn Mhanainn. Inseoidh sé dúinn faoi na traidisiúin a bhaineann le hOíche Fhéile San Seáin, an leigheas atá in uisce an tobair agus na deasghnátha cráifeachta a bhain tráth agus na deasghnátha sin a bhaineann fós leis an tobar.Agallaí: Peter Dolan.  Agallóir: Sally-Ann Barrett

Hazel Morrison recounts how Moycullen Heritage Group explored eight holy wells in their parish and what they discovered. Interviewee: Hazel Morrison.  Interviewer: Sally-Ann BarrettPodchraoladh 2: Toibreacha Beannaithe Mhaigh CuilinnTabharfaidh Hazel Morrison cuntas ar an gcaoi ar thug Grúpa Oidhreachta Mhaigh Cuilinn faoi ocht dtobar beannaithe a iniúchadh ina bparóiste agus ar an méid a d’fhoghlaim siad. Agallaí: Hazel Morrison.  Agallóir: Sally-Ann Barrett

Mary Ward Moriarty reminisces on her childhood visits to various holy wells in Galway and neighbouring counties and the cures, patterns and traditions associated with them.   Sr Agnes Curley tells us about a holy wells project in the Tuam region. Interviewees: Mary Ward Moriarty and Sr Agnes Curley. Interviewer: Sally-Ann Barrett.  Podchraoladh 1: Toibreacha Beannaithe agus Traidisiúin an Lucht SiúilTéann Mary Ward Moriarty siar ar bhóithrín na smaointe agus cuireann síos ar na cuairteanna a thug sí ina hóige ar thoibreacha beannaithe éagsúla i nGaillimh agus i gcontaetha in aice láimhe agus ar na leigheasanna, ar an bpátrúnacht agus ar na traidisiúin a bhaineann leo.   Tabharfaidh an tSiúr Agnes Curley léargas dúinn ar thionscadal ar thoibreacha beannaithe atá ar bun i gceantar Thuama. Agallaithe: Mary Ward Moriarty agus an tSiúr Agnes Curley. Agallóir: Sally-Ann Barrett.  Sraith Podchraoltaí ar Thoibreacha Beannaithe Chontae na GaillimheThe Holy Wells of the County of Galway Podcast SeriesTaifeadadh an tsraith podchraoltaí seo mar chuid den Iniúchadh ar Thoibreacha Beannaithe i gContae na Gaillimhe 2020-2024 arna mhaoiniú ag Oifig Oidhreachta Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe agus ag an gComhairle Oidhreachta.  Taighdeoir an tionscadail: Zena Hoctor. Bainisteoir an tionscadail: Marie Mannion, An tOifigeach Oidhreachta, Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe. Tacaíocht Riaracháin: Ita Gordon, Gina O’Shaughnessy, Anne Power agus Martina Creaven.Arna mhaoiniú ag: An Chomhairle Oidhreachta agus Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe This series of podcasts was recorded as part of the Audit of the Holy Wells of the County of Galway 2020-2024 funded by Galway County Council Heritage Office and the Heritage Council.  Project researcher: Zena Hoctor. Project Manager: Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council. Administrative Support: Ita Gordon, Gina O’Shaughnessy, Anne Power, and Martina Creaven.Funded by: The Heritage Council and Galway County Council 

Sadie has been a dedicated member of Gort Golf Club since the 1970s, serving as Captain in both 1978 and the millennium year, 2000. Over the years, she has been actively involved in various committees and held numerous positions within the club. In 2018, she was honoured to serve as club President, a role that reflected her deep commitment to Gort Golf Club. A true "club person," Sadie has always cherished the sense of community at Gort. Together with her late husband Joe, a strong supporter of the club, she passed on her passion for golf to their grandchildren. She recounts tales of the camaraderie and community spirit, and what being part of the club meant to her. Sadie is joined in the podcast by her granddaughter, Hannah McInerney, current women’s Captain at the club.

Niall is one of the few members who have played on all three of our golf courses: Rockfield, Loughtyshaughnessy, and Castlequarter. A Gort native, he joined the Club as a junior in 1973, served as Captain in 1989, and President in 2005. He has achieved success in both team and individual events, spanning several decades, including the Connacht Shield in 1978 and 2015. He was awarded the Connacht Veteran Golfer of the Year in 2013. Golf is very much a family sport, his wife Rose was Lady Captain in 1997,  while his sons, Tony and Kris, have also achieved golfing successes. Niall is a storyteller, with a keen interest in history, which makes for interesting listening.

Ag glacadh go fonnmhar leis an am atá caite / Embracing the Past (2023) le/ with Patria McWalter / Cartlannaí /Archivist

Ag glacadh go fonnmhar leis an am atá caite / Embracing the Past (2023) le/with Josephine Vahey/ Leabharlannaí Gníomhach Cathrach & Contae / Acting City & County Librarian

Ag glacadh go fonnmhar leis an am atá caite / Embracing the Past (2023) le/with Marie Mannion/ Oifigeach Oidhreachta / Heritage Officer 

This project was funded by Creative Ireland and Galway County Council