May to August Events 2019 Guide

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GCM-Events-A5-Apr19-v4.indd 1 17/04/2019 15:33 Saturday 11 May, 12.30pm to 1pm May SCREENING: Of Bees and Bee Skeps Originally produced for RTÉ in the 1970s and 1980s by David and Sally Shaw-Smith, Hands is an acclaimed series of documentaries about Ireland’s waning craft traditions. Of Bees and Bee Skeps (1983) is a moving film about the traditional work of beekeeping and honey-harvesting. Special thanks to Sally Shaw-Smith for her permission to screen her film. All welcome

Saturday 11 May, 2.30pm to 3.30pm ILLUSTRATED TALK: Ireland’s Pollinators Hands - Of Bees and Bee Skeps Pollinators, such as bees, move pollen from one flower to another so that they can reproduce. Join Dr Dara Stanley, UCD to hear about Ireland’s many pollinators and the vital work they carry out, and to learn about the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, which sets out actions to protect them. Suitable for Age 8+

Saturday 18 May, 10.15am to 11.15am ART CLASS: Drawing from Artefacts To mark both Drawing Day and International Museum Day, cartoonist Róisín Curé will help you to develop comic-book characters and stories using museum artefacts as inspiration. Suitable for Ages 7 to 14

Saturday 4 May, 10am to 12pm PROJECT: Community Beach Clean

Gráinne Cronin O’Reilly, Marine Institute graduate Curé Róisín of Courtesy intern, invites you to join her for a beach clean to help keep the city’s coastline litter free. Meeting at the Claddagh Hall at noon, Gráinne will lead the group down to the shoreline behind South Park, between Nimmo’s Pier and the Mutton Island causeway. Please wear appropriate footwear for slippery conditions and remember to wrap up warm. Children must be accompanied by an adult. All welcome (no booking required)

Saturday 4 May, 2.30pm to 3.30pm Saturday 18 May, 11.30am to 1pm WORKSHOP: Becoming Plastic Free ART CLASS: Draw Me A Story Humans produce almost 300 million tons of plastic To celebrate Drawing Day and International Museum every year, half of which is used just once and then Day, which both fall on Saturday 18 May, join artist thrown away. Join Gráinne Cronin O’Reilly, Marine Róisín Curé as she guides you to illustrate a story using Institute graduate intern, as she discusses alternatives themes and objects from our galleries. No previous to everyday single-use plastic items and where to drawing experience necessary and all materials source them. Funded by Creative Ireland. provided. Suitable for Age 8+ Suitable for Adults

GCM-Events-A5-Apr19-v4.indd 2 17/04/2019 15:33 June Courtesy of Aengus McMahon Courtesy

Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland Saturday 25 May, 10.30am to 11.30am WORKSHOP: Be a Medieval Scribe Archaeologist Anne Carey tells the story of the earliest monasteries in Ireland, showing how the monks lived and the beautifully illustrated manuscripts they produced, with activities including calligraphy. This event is co-hosted with Civic Trust as part of Saturday 1 June, 12pm to 12.30pm its Medieval Experience Day, under Galway 2020’s Small Towns-Big Ideas programme. GALLERY TOUR: Sea-Science – The Wild Atlantic Suitable for Ages 7 to 12 Developed in partnership with the Marine Institute, Sea Science – the Wild Atlantic is an interactive exhibition Saturday 25 May, 11am to 3pm that focuses on the wonders of the marine world. Join DEMONSTRATION: The Instrument Makers Gráinne Cronin O’Reilly, Marine Institute graduate intern, for a guided gallery tour to learn more. Galway Early Music is proud to promote instrument makers in Ireland that specialize in early instruments, Suitable for Ages 7 to 12 such as lute, flute, harp and symphonium. Come along Saturday 1 June, 3pm to 3.30pm and see beautiful, handmade instruments, talk to the makers and hear what the instruments sound like. This is GALLERY TOUR: Sea-Science – The Wild Atlantic a joint event as part of the Galway Early Music Festival Developed in partnership with the Marine Institute, Sea and Galway Civic Trust’s Medieval Experience Day. Science – the Wild Atlantic is an interactive exhibition All welcome (no booking required) that focuses on the wonders of the marine world. Join Gráinne Cronin O’Reilly, Marine Institute graduate Saturday 25 May, 12pm to 12.30pm intern, for a guided gallery tour to learn more. GUIDED TOUR: Keepers of the Gael Suitable for Adults An introduction to Keepers of the Gael, an exciting Saturday 8 June, 12pm to 1pm new exhibition exploring Gaelic society and culture through the lens of the learned families who served ART CLASS: Gaelic Script Gaelic chiefs and English lords in Ireland between 1200 Did you know that the had its own style and 1600 AD. This event is co-hosted with Galway Civic of script and print that developed from the lettering Trust as part of its Medieval Experience Day, under found in medieval Irish manuscripts? Join calligrapher Galway 2020’s Small Towns-Big Ideas programme. Kevin Honan to learn the Gaelic alphabet and have a Suitable for Age 15+ go at writing your own name in the style of a medieval monk. Saturday 25 May, 2.30pm to 3.30pm Suitable for Ages 10 to 15 TALK: City of the Tribes Saturday 8 June, 2.30pm to 4.30pm Galway is known as the ‘City of the Tribes’ after fourteen merchant families that dominated the ART CLASS: Gaelic Script commercial and administrative life of the medieval An introduction to Gaelic script with Kevin Honan, an town. Join local historian Adrian Martyn, author of art teacher and member of Peannairí, the Association The Tribes of Galway, 1124-1642, to learn about these of Irish Calligraphers. Learn about its development influential ‘tribes’ and their many connections with from the monastic scriptoria of early Christian Ireland, Europe. This event is co-hosted with Galway Civic Trust look at some work by contemporary Irish calligraphers, as part of its Medieval Experience Day, under Galway and afterwards, try your hand at the Gaelic alphabet. 2020’s Small Towns-Big Ideas programme. Suitable for beginners. All materials provided. Suitable for Age 12+ Suitable for Age 16+ and Adults

GCM-Events-A5-Apr19-v4.indd 3 17/04/2019 15:33 Saturday 29 June, 12pm to 1pm WORKSHOP: Harvest Knots Traditionally, at harvest time, young men and women wove decorative ‘harvest knots’ from ripe straw, which were exchanged as love tokens or worn as buttonholes. Join Brendan McGowan of to learn more about this custom and have a go at making some different types of knots. Suitable for Age 7+ Harvest Knots Harvest

Aughnanure Castle. Courtesy of Paul Naessens Saturday 29 June, 2.30pm to 3.30pm WORKSHOP: Harvest Knots Traditionally, at harvest time, young men and women wove decorative ‘harvest knots’ from ripe straw, which Saturday 15 June, 2.30pm to 3.30pm were exchanged as love tokens or worn as buttonholes. Join Brendan McGowan of Galway City Museum to learn ILLUSTRATED TALK: The O’Flaherty tower houses of more about this custom and have a go at making some Iarchonnacht different types of knots. From the 15th century onwards the tower house, Suitable for Adults with its defensive bawn, became the residence of choice of Gaelic chiefs and Old English lords. Join archaeologist Paul Naessens, NUI Galway, as he discusses the O’Flaherty tower houses west of Lough July Corrib with a particular focus on Aughnanure Castle, near Oughterard. Suitable for Adults MacSweeney Feast. Courtesy of of Courtesy Feast. MacSweeney the National Library of Ireland of Library National the Saturday 22 June, 12pm to 12.30pm GUIDED TOUR: “A Triumph of Unconscious Beauty” “A Triumph of Unconscious Beauty” is a new exhibition featuring rarely-seen paintings, sketches and photographs of the old Claddagh fishing village and the nearby fish-market. Join us to learn more about this ‘singular colony’ that so fascinated artists and writers throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth Saturday 6 July, 2.30pm to 3.30pm centuries. ILLUSTRATED TALK: Drinking Rituals in Medieval Suitable for Age 8+ Gaelic Ireland Saturday 22 June, 3pm to 3.30pm Feasting and drinking were an important element of the cultural practices of elite Gaelic society between 1200 GUIDED TOUR: Keepers of the Gael and 1600 AD. A four-handled drinking vessel called a An introduction to Keepers of the Gael, an exciting new ‘mether’ was passed so that guests could share in its exhibition exploring Gaelic society and culture through contents. Join archaeologist Dr Elizabeth Gray as she the lens of the learned families who served Gaelic discuss medieval drinking feasts and afterwards visit chiefs and English lords in Ireland between 1200 and the Keepers of the Gael exhibition to see examples of 1600 AD. medieval methers. Suitable for Age 15+ Suitable for Age 12+

GCM-Events-A5-Apr19-v4.indd 4 17/04/2019 15:33 Friday 12 July, 10.15am to 12pm Saturday 20 July, 12pm to 12.30pm SCREENING & WORKSHOP: The Art of Candle Making GUIDED TOUR: “A Triumph of Unconscious Beauty” To celebrate the art of the chandler, there will be a “A Triumph of Unconscious Beauty” is a new exhibition special screening of Dublin Candle Makers (1983), part featuring rarely-seen paintings, sketches and of the award-winning Hands series by David and Sally photographs of the old Claddagh fishing village and Shaw-Smith, followed by a candle-making workshop the nearby fish-market. Join us to learn more about with artist Veronika Straberger. All materials provided. this ‘singular colony’ that so fascinated artists and This event will take place in the Westside Resource writers throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth Centre, Seamus Quirke Road as part of the Westside Arts centuries. Festival. Advance booking is essential. Call Westside Suitable for Age 8+ Resource Centre on (091) 528325. Suitable for Adults Saturday 20 July, 3pm to 3.30pm GUIDED TOUR: Keepers of the Gael Saturday 13 July, 12pm to 1pm An introduction to Keepers of the Gael, an exciting new ILLUSTRATED TALK: Early Irish Manuscripts exhibition exploring Gaelic society and culture through In the medieval period, Irish scribes produced books of the lens of the learned families who served Gaelic astonishing beauty – such as the Book of Kells – that chiefs and English lords in Ireland between 1200 and became the gold standard of European illuminated 1600 AD. manuscripts. Join Kevin Honan for an overview of early Suitable for Age 15+ Irish manuscripts and some contemporary work by Irish calligraphers. Suitable for Adults Courtesy of James Hardiman Library, NUIG Library, Hardiman James of Courtesy The Claddagh by John Leech, c. 1859. 1859. c. Leech, John by Claddagh The

Saturday 27 July, 12pm to 12.30pm GUIDED TOUR: “A Triumph of Unconscious Beauty” “A Triumph of Unconscious Beauty” is a new exhibition featuring rarely-seen paintings, sketches and

Medieval Scribe. Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland photographs of the old Claddagh fishing village and the nearby fish-market. Join us to learn more about this ‘singular colony’ that so fascinated artists and writers throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Saturday 13 July, 2.30pm to 4.30pm Suitable for Age 8+ ART CLASS: Gaelic Script An introduction to Gaelic script with Kevin Honan, an Saturday 27 July, 3pm to 3.30pm art teacher and member of Peannairí, the Association GUIDED TOUR: Keepers of the Gael of Irish Calligraphers. Learn about its development from An introduction to Keepers of the Gael, an exciting new the monastic scriptoria of early Christian Ireland and, exhibition exploring Gaelic society and culture through afterwards, try your hand at some versions of the Gaelic the lens of the learned families who served Gaelic alphabet. Suitable for those with some background in chiefs and English lords in Ireland between 1200 and calligraphy or art. All materials provided. 1600 AD. Suitable for Age 16+ and Adults Suitable for Age 15+

GCM-Events-A5-Apr19-v4.indd 5 17/04/2019 15:33 Saturday 17 August, 11am to 12pm August WORKSHOP: Five Slates or Queenie? The theme of this year’s Heritage Week is pastimes in past times. Leave aside your consoles and tablets and Saturday 3 August, 12pm to 12.30pm join Damien Donnellan of Galway City Museum to learn GUIDED TOUR: “A Triumph of Unconscious Beauty” some traditional outdoor games, such as ‘five slates’ “A Triumph of Unconscious Beauty” is a new exhibition and ‘queenie’. featuring rarely-seen paintings, sketches and Suitable for Ages 7 to 12 photographs of the old Claddagh fishing village and the nearby fish-market. Join us to learn more about Saturday 17 August, 3pm to 4pm this ‘singular colony’ that so fascinated artists and WORKSHOP: Five Slates or Queenie? writers throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The theme of this year’s Heritage Week is pastimes in past times. Leave aside your consoles and tablets and Suitable for Age 8+ join Damien Donnellan of Galway City Museum to learn some traditional outdoor games, such as ‘five slates’ Saturday 3 August, 3pm to 3.30pm and ‘queenie’. GUIDED TOUR: Keepers of the Gael Suitable for Ages 7 to 12 An introduction to Keepers of the Gael, an exciting new exhibition exploring Gaelic society and culture through Saturday 24 August, 11.30am to 1pm the lens of the learned families who served Gaelic WORKSHOP: Learn to Listen-Listen to Learn chiefs and English lords in Ireland between 1200 and 1600 AD. The theme of this year’s Heritage Week is pastimes in past times. One timeless pastime is listening Suitable for Age 15+ to, learning and playing Irish music. Join musician and composer Ronan Browne for this relaxed music- appreciation class to explore archive recordings and gain an insight into music, history, personalities and styles, both regional and individual. Suitable for musicians and listeners. Suitable for Age 10+ and Adults Galway Shawls. Courtesy of John Courtney John of Courtesy Shawls. Galway Kilconnell Friary. Courtesy of the National Monuments Service

Saturday 10 August, 2.30pm to 3.30pm Saturday 31 August, 2.30pm to 4pm ILLUSTRATED TALK: The Franciscans in the West ILLUSTRATED TALK: The Galway Shawl Founded by St Francis of Assisi (c. 1181–1226), the Franciscan order arrived in Ireland in the thirteenth Until the mid-twentieth century, women in the West century. Following an initial period of growth, a commonly wore the traditional the lightweight knitted renewed phase of friary construction took place in the or crocheted everyday shawl and the heavier loom- fifteenth century, with the support of the Gaelic and woven so-called ‘Galway shawl’. Join fashion-designer Gaelicised communities. Join Dr Yvonne McDermott as Lou Brennan as she discusses the shawl in a west of she discusses the Franciscans in medieval . Ireland context. Afterwards, bring along your own Afterwards, visit the Keepers of the Gael exhibition. Galway shawl and share its story. Suitable for Age 12+ Suitable for Age 16+ and Adults

GCM-Events-A5-Apr19-v4.indd 6 17/04/2019 15:33 Exhibitions: Opening Summer 2019 “A Triumph of Unconscious Beauty”

– Images of the Claddagh Findlater Trish by Satire Performing Poets Galway City Museum presents a collection of rarely- seen paintings, sketches and photographs of the old Claddagh fishing village that so fascinated artists and writers throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The Claddagh by Robert Welch, c. 1894. Keepers of the Gael

Courtesy of National Museums Northern Ireland An exploration of Gaelic culture and society through the learned families of historians, lawyers, physicians, poets and musicians who served Gaelic chiefs and English lords in Ireland between 1200 and 1600 AD. As hereditary keepers of the arts, these learned families framed the outlook of Gaelic peoples.

For further details visit www.galwaycitymuseum.ie

Recent Donations

Walter Macken Place street-sign Walter Macken Place Macken Walter Walter Macken was born in Galway on 3 May 1915. Originally an actor, he became a full-time writer following the success of his third book, Rain on the Wind and became best known for his trilogy Seek the Fair Land, The Silent People and The Scorching Wind. He died in 1967. This street sign, which reads ‘Plás Bháitéar Uí Mhaicín Walter Macken Place’, uses Cló Gaelach and Roman lettering. It was formerly located at the Walter Macken flat complex in Mervue, which was built in the early 1970s. It is currently in storage. You can now view our collections online at www.galwaycitymuseum.ie

GCM-Events-A5-Apr19-v4.indd 7 17/04/2019 15:33 Photo by Kelvin Gilmore

Contact: How to Book: Galway City Museum, Spanish Parade, Galway City. For further information or to make a booking Tel: (091) 532460 please contact Galway City Museum on Email: [email protected] (091) 532460. Website: www.galwaycitymuseum.ie Please note the following: Mailing List: • Events are FREE of charge unless otherwise If you wish to join our mailing list please contact the stated and all materials are supplied. museum on (091) 532460 or • Events must be booked in advance (except email: [email protected] where stated). Opening Hours: • Places are limited so book early to avoid Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm disappointment. Sunday (summer only), 12pm to 5pm • Please ensure you arrive in advance of the start Admission Free. time, otherwise your place may be reallocated. • If you have booked and are unable to attend Children’s Activities: please contact the museum as soon as possible Activity sheets for children in English and Irish - My so that your place may be reallocated. Favourite Object / An Rud Is Fearr Liom - are available from Reception. A variety of other activity and colouring sheets are also available.

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