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 Dhonnacha


Podchraoladh 6: Baile an Tobair, Corr na Móna

Tá 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 Dhonnacha


Podchraoladh 5: Tobar Naomh Anna, Tír an Fhia, Ceantar na nOileán

Is 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, Goirtín

Tabharfaidh 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.