Voices of Moylough preserves a community’s living history
Moylough’s memories, traditions and personalities have been preserved for future generations in a new six-part podcast series launched in the Community Centre for Heritage Week.
The series, brings together the recollections of local people whose lives encompass emigration, farming, village shops, traditional music, blacksmithing and the discovery of an ancient log boat.
The interviews were conducted by Sally-Ann Barrett and the series was produced by Moylough Heritage Society. It was officially launched by David Burke, former editor of The Tuam Herald who said the recordings created “a world where reminiscence, social history, human interest and sheer personality have combined into a unique portrait of Moylough going back to the 19th century”.
MC for the evening Mary Mullin, Chair of Moylough Heritage Society, said, “Each of the six podcasts contains details which are unlikely to be found in formal histories.”
The voice of the late Nellie Clancy provides an especially valuable link with an earlier Moylough. Born in 1926, Nellie recalls her schooldays, dancing and life on the family farm at Marless. A number of speakers expressed sadness that she didn’t make the launch in the school she attended. She was a couple of months off her 100th birthday when she was recorded.
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MARIE Mannion, County Galway Heritage Officer, David Burke, retired editor The Tuam Herald who launched the podcasts, Mary Mullin, Chair of Moylough Heritage Society, and Sally-Ann Barrett of Freeway Communications who conducted the interviews.Image 2 of 5
AT the launch were (back) Tomás Mannion, Michael Hogan, Marie Mannion, Cllr Michael Connolly, Jimmy Clancy, Sally-Ann Barrett; (front) Mary Mullin, Kathleen O’Toole, Maureen Kineavy, Kathleen Fallon and Marie Mannion.Image 3 of 5
ROISÍN, Tomás and Gina Mannion. Father and daughter Roisín joined Colum and Cathal to end the night with music. Photos: Mary RyanImage 4 of 5
ROISÍN Ryan and Anne Mannion, members of Moylough Heritage Society.Image 5 of 5
THE Staunton sisters, now Maureen Kinneavy and Kathleen O’Toole, at the launch of Voices of Moylough.Kathleen Fallon recalls meeting her late husband, Bill, and the long working days they spent running the family shop in Moylough village.
Michael Hogan's contribution tells the remarkable story of the ancient log boat discovered on his family's land at Templemoyle.
The Staunton sisters, Kathleen O’Toole and Maureen Kineavy, left Moylough for America as teenagers during the 1960s. They travelled from a village with little access to national or international news and no television into an entirely different world in Boston.
Tommy Mannion takes listeners further back into Moylough’s history through his memories of local fairs, farming families and the blacksmiths who once worked throughout the surrounding countryside.
Tomás Mannion recalls the early days of Ceoltóirí Maighlocha and their tours of England, the United States and Australia when they earned international acclaim.
The six podcasts form a wide and detailed portrait of Moylough and of the changes experienced by rural Ireland during the past century. They also capture something that written records cannot fully convey: the contributors' voices, turns of phrase and humour. Voices of Moylough is available through the Galway County Heritage Office podcast on usual platforms. — Mary Ryan