Galway Archaeological and Historical Society Meeting

Cumann Seandálaíochta agus Staire na Gaillimhe
Galway Archaeological and Historical Society

Website: www.gahs.info

HARBOUR HOTEL, DOCK ROAD, GALWAY

Monday, 10 October 2011 @ 8PM

“West Connacht in the eyes of the Bogs engineers 1809-1813”

By Dr. Arnold Horner

All are welcome to attend.


In 1809 the British government appointed commissioners to establish information about the bogs of Ireland and to explore the potential of draining and improving them for cultivation. During the next four years the commissioners divided much of Ireland into districts for each of which an engineer produced a report. Although the bogs were the main focus, many of these reports contain much other interesting information about local conditions. Most of the reports are also accompanied by a series of maps, some of which are of great significance because they show areas thirty years before the first Ordnance Survey maps.

This presentation reviews how the western parts of Counties Mayo and Galway were portrayed in the maps and reports of the engineers working for Bogs Commissioners of 1809-13. Four engineers, Richard Griffith, William Bald, J.A. Jones and Alexander Nimmo respectively reported on districts in north-west Mayo, south and east Mayo, the area east of Lough Corrib and in Connemara. Their commentaries, together with the maps provided for each of the districts except Connemara, offer many incidental insights to local life in west Connacht in the early nineteenth century.

The presentation is given by Dr Arnold Horner who teaches geography at University College Dublin. Dr Horner is the author of several articles and book chapters on the bogs commissioners. He has written extensively on many aspects of the geography of Ireland. He has a particular interest in maps and in the history of cartography (map-making) in Ireland. He has written three books on the mapping of Irish counties, the most recent being Mapping Sligo in the early nineteenth century, an introduction to William Larkin’s 1819 map of the county. This book has just been published by Wordwell.

Kinsale Historical Society

The Kinsale Historical Society are hosting a meeting tomorrow night (Tuesday 11th October).

Michael Smith who has written extensively on the Irish in the Antarctic will speak on the lives of the McCarthys of Kinsale, Timothy who was with Shackleton and Mortimer who sailed with Scott, He will also tell of other Irish explorers from the Cork area.The lecture will take place at the Methodist Church at 8.30 p.m.

FLHS MEMBERS VISIT BANBRIDGE ON SECOND TRIP

After the very successful joint North/South visit to Banbridge in July it was decided due to popular demand to organise a second trip for those members who missed out on the earlier visit. The visiting group included five members from Naas, namely Pat Mc Glynn, Jenny Casey, Margaret Dawson , Fidelma O’Brien and Larry Breen, two from Celbridge Anne Mc Neill and Maeve O’Regan and Frank Taaffe from Athy. The day’s itinerary was basically similar to the first trip but with a few added extras. After tea/coffee and scones at the F.E Mc Williams Gallery the group had a chance to view the impressive gallery and outside gardens before setting off on a tour of the Banbridge and district. This time however the group were afforded the chance of a visit to the very impressively restored Stramore House courtesy of the present owners, the Watson Family. It was a unique opportunity to see inside the house which had been beautifully restored to much of its former glory. It was a memorable visit much enhanced by the fact that the house was also a home lived in by the owners and that made it somewhat special. This time the visitors were able to access the inside of Moyallon Quaker Meeting hall and see at first hand how the community practiced their worship. The coach tour included a visit to Gilford to see St. John’s Catholic Church and then on to Drumballyroney and the Bronte Interpretative Centre. The final port of call was the Holy Trinity Church of Ireland Church and parish hall where the visitors were given a very warm welcome and great hospitality by the local parishioners who provided a wonderful array of sandwiches, cakes tea and coffee. An added bonus was a chance to see the inside of this beautiful church with its impressive ornate alter and beautiful stain glass windows. Adrian, Chairman of the Banbridge Historical Society joined the group and welcomed the visitors to his home town on behalf of all its members. The happy wanderers left Banbridge after another memorable visit with special thanks to the organisers, Doreen Mc Bride and Jason Diamond for all their hard work, warm welcome and excellent guidance during the day.