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Events In the Portumna & South East Galway Region

During July 2003, local groups in SE Galway will host events in association with the Beara Breifne Greenway.

•  Fri 4^th July          Lawrencetown                                                  

A ceremony at Bellevue Gate will start the events in Lawrencetown.  A talk on the historical significance of the Gate will be followed by a march of "Bellevue Volunteers" in costume from the Volunteer Gate to Lawrencetown. A reception in the community hall for all guests, including the special visitors from the twin town - Laurencetown, Co. Down, with musical entertainment will take place.

•  Sat 5^th July           Clonfert                                                      

South East Galway IRD are organising an O’Madden weekend which will take place in Clonfert Community Hall, Clonfert, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway from 4^th-6^th July 2003.  The Madden name is still quite a common family name in East Galway today.  This weekend will provide a unique opportunity for Madden’s to come together, find out more about their heritage and visit Madden castles/sites.

Dance the night away to the sound of Brian Coll and & his band in Eyrecourt Community Hall.

•  Sun 6^th July         Eyrecourt                                           

Eyrecourt will host a Vintage Day, youth parade and re-enactment of the first All-Ireland Hurling Game. Children from the area will take part in Hurling and Camogie games.

 

•  Wed 9th July         Meelick                              

Concert and talk in Meelick Church.

•  Thurs 10^th July      Tiernascragh  

Ceili Mór and Traditional Dance in the Auld Shebeen.

•  Fri 11^th July         Portumna

The Galway Greenways network of festivals will finish in Portumna in the beautiful setting of Portumna Castle and Gardens, former seat of the Clanricarde Burkes.  Visitors can avail of free admission and guided tours of the castle on this festival day. Experience the living history of the period with the Portumna Players production of the Wedding of Patrick Sarsfield to Honora de Burgo. An Armoury display, guest speakers and musical entertainment will also take place in the castle. The evening will finish with The Maple Poetry group and the theme for the evening is “The Crossing”.  

•  O’Madden Weekend July 2003

South East Galway IRD, a community-owned organisation, based in Portumna, Co. Galway are organising an O’Madden weekend which will take place from 4^th-6^th July 2003. For over 700 years, the O’Maddens were Clan Chieftains in East Galway and the Madden name is still quite a common family name in East Galway today.   The weekend will provide a unique opportunity for Maddens to come together, find out more about their shared heritage, visit O’Madden castles/sites and generally enjoy the craic. 

•  Programme of events

The programme of events for the weekend is as follows:

On Friday evening, 4^th July, participants will gather in Clonfert Community Hall, Clonfert, Ballinasloe at 6.00 p.m. for registration and reception hosted by SE Galway IRD.  Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway Co. Council will officially open the O’Madden weekend.  This will be followed by two talks; (1) ‘Mapping the O’Maddens’ by M.I.G. Clarke; (2) ‘Great Bardic Poet Celebrates Action of O’Madden Chieftain’ by Breandáin Ó Madagáin.

On Saturday morning, 5^th July, the gathering will assemble at 10.00 a.m. in Clonfert Community Hall, for a fieldtrip. Patrick Larkin and Padraig Rooney will act as guides for the fieldtrip to a selection of O’Madden sites in the area.  In the afternoon, the group will visit the East Galway Family History Society based in Woodford Heritage Centre. 

After Supper (6.15 p.m.) in Clonfert Community Hall, Gerard Madden will talk about Dr. Richard Robert O’Madden – author of “The United Irishmen, their lives and times.”  This will be followed by Donal Burke ‘Reappraising the political landscape of the O’Maddens in the 16^th & 17^th centuries’.

Music with Brian Coll and & his band will take place in Eyrecourt Community Hall.

On Sunday morning, 9 a.m. mass in Meelick Church will be held for past and present members of the Madden family.

For further details on the Beara Breifne Greenway festival events or the O’Madden Weekend contact: Elaine Coghlan, Heritage Co-ordinator, SE Galway IRD, Portumna, Co. Galway. Tel: (0509) 41944 or e-mail:

 

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Galway City & County

Clarinbridge Oyster Festival Co Galway

Held in September each year See www.clarinbridge.com  Tel: +353 (0)91 796342

Galway Arts Festival

Runs for two weeks in July Address: Headford Road (Galway) Tel: +353 (0)91 509700 Website http://www.galwayartsfestival.ie

Galway Race Week

A major event each year in July See www.galwayraces.com 

Galway Arts Centre

For up to the minute programme Tel +353 (0)91 569777 Web http://www.galwayartscentre.com

Portumna Country Crafts 2002

COUNTRY CRAFTS  at Portumna Castle Crafts, Abbey Street, Portumna, Co. Galway on Sunday Contact for details of next Crafts Fair - Basket Making, Rush Weaving, Pottery, Trees, Heathers and Shrubs.  Email