Galway's Medieval Church Heritage

 

Conn Manning, Chris Corlett, Tracy Collins and Roger Stalley who presented at Galway Medieval Church Heritage Conference in Mullagh

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Conn Manning speaks about early churches in Galway and Ireland

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Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council

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Christy Cunniffe, Bernie Doherty, Gary Dempsey, Conn Manning, Chris Corlett, Marie Mannion, Tracy Collins, Mark McCarthy, Roger Stalley

 

Selection of attendees at Galway Medieval Church Heritage Conference

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Peggy Monahan from Kilboght Restoration group at the Galway Medieval Church Conference organized by Galway County council and was held at Mullagh Community Centre.

 

Olive Alcock from Galway City and Una Ryan, Lucan at the Galway Medieval Church Conference

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Selection of speakers and event organisers at Galway Medieval Church Heritage Conference

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B. Doherty, Community Archaeologist with attendees at conference

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Frances Keane from Mullagh and Tara Roberts from Gurteen at the Galway Medieval Church Conference organized by Galway County council and was held at Mullagh Community Centre.

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Ann Nethaway from Eyrecourt and Christy Cunniffe from Clonfert

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Martin Breen from Ennis and Dick Cronin from Dysert at the Galway Medieval Church Conference at Mullagh Community Centre.

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Joe Tully from Ballinasloe and James Heenan from Lorrha at the Galway Medieval Church Conference organized by Galway County council and was held at Mullagh Community Centre.

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Coleman Shaughnessy concentrating at Galway's Medieval Church Heritage Conference

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Dr. Roger Stalley photographs the Abbeygormican Head

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Bride Brady, Kilconly and Tracy Collins, National Monuments Service

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Tara and Pat Roberts, Gurteen

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Tori McMorran, Clare Community Archaeologist, Olive Alcock, NMS, Chris Corlett, NMS, Bernie Doherty, Galway Community Archaeologist, Tracy Collins, NMS and Peggy Monahan, Kilreekil.

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Archaeology experts, local enthusiasts and heritage groups from across Ireland gathered in Galway for a conference dedicated to the county’s medieval churches and their connections to local communities. Hosted by the Heritage Research Group at Atlantic Technological University, Galway County Council Heritage Office and Galway Community Archaeology Project, ‘People, Places, Sacred Spaces’ was held in Mullagh Community Centre Friday, 20th September.

Bernie Doherty, Galway Community Archaeologist opened the conference thanking all in attendance for their contributions in preserving and promoting archaeological sites and monuments in Galway. She highlighted the significant contribution of the Community Monuments Fund to the county, and commended local communities in their ongoing work as custodians of our archaeological heritage.

Marie Mannion spoke how important it was to hold the conference in the heart of the community, accessible to all, providing the public with a great opportunity to delve into Galway’s rich medieval history and learn more about the sacred spaces that have shaped local communities down through the centuries. Frank Keane, Galway Rural Development welcomed all to Mullagh Community Centre, a first class facility for conferences, sports and recreation.

Early Irish Churches

Conleth Manning, former senior archaeologist in the National Monuments Service and past President of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland spoke about early Irish churches with a focus on the churches of Galway.

Female Monasticism

Dr Tracy Collins, Archaeologist with the National Monuments Service shared insights into the role of female monasticism in medieval Galway and offered a glimpse into the lives of women in religious communities during that period making reference to nearby Kilboght, near Kilreekil and Kilcreevanty, near Tuam. Her monograph Female Monasticism in Medieval Ireland: An archaeology (Cork University Press 2021) is based on her doctoral research; and more recently she has co-edited the volume Brides of Christ: Women and monasticism in medieval and early modern Ireland (Four Courts Press, 2023), a
volume based on the fifth  Glenstal History Conference held in 2021.

The Strade Master

Christian Corlett, District Archaeologist for the National Monuments Service discussed the remarkable work of the Strade master craftsman and his contributions to the architecture of medieval Connaught.

St Mary’s Cathedral, Tuam

Dr. Roger Stalley, a fellow emeritus of Trinity College Dublin and former Professor of the History of Art, focussed on St. Mary’s Cathedral, Tuam and its importance in 12^th and 13^th century Ireland. He highlighted the styles of art used by the masons and the similarities throughout the country. He highlighted the chancel archway at St Mary’s Cathedral, Tuam as a significant example of Romanesque architecture and art. possibly the most important of this period in the whole of Ireland. ‘Everyone should visit St Mary’s,’ he exclaimed, and ‘don’t be afraid to get up close and examine it’.

Contribution to Heritage

Dr. Christy Cunniffe’s closing remarks acknowledged the rich calibre of speakers, their research and on-going work. He also highlighted the immense prospects in further researching our ecclesiastical heritage. A tribute to Dr. Christy Cunniffe for his immense contribution to Galway’s rich heritage was shared by Gary Dempsey, Heritage Research Group at Atlantic Technological University. ‘The Illustrated Guide to the Ecclesiastical Heritage of the County of Galway’ by Dr. Christy Cunniffe & Zena Hoctor was presented to each of the speakers as a token of gratitude for their participation in the confernece.

Community Projects

The event showcased several community-led heritage projects supported by the Community Monuments Fund, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage including Kilboght , Abbeygormican,  St. Kerrills and Kilcreevanty. A visit to Abbeygormican in glorious sunshine ended the proceedings. Research and conservation works carried out at Abbeygormican 2020 to 2023 were highlighted, emphasising the multi-discipline team required to enable these works including archaeologists, conservation architects, ecologists, engineers, heritage professionals, craftsmen, geophysicists and researchers.

The conference was part of the Galway County Heritage Plan, funded by the Galway County Heritage Office and Galway County Council, with support from The Heritage Council, National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Galway County Community Support Scheme 2024.