Category Archives: Museum Exhibition

Echternach ‘Hopping Procession’

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Tuesday 11th June sees the annual UNESCO World Heritage Status ‘hopping procession’ taking place in Echternach, Luxembourg, in honour of St. Willibrord, their Patron Saint. Over 10,000 people will participate in the procession where they will hop from one foot to the other and they are known as “those who pray with their feet”.

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Pilgrims ‘hopping’ in Echternach.

Willibrord, an Anglo-Saxon from Northumbria, England, spent twelve years at Rath Melsigi, Milford, County Carlow, being formed as a missionary monk. He is one of the most important Saints in Europe. In AD 690, Willibrord led a very successful mission to Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, where his impact is evident to this day.

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St. Laserian and his Carlow Connection

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The 18th of April marks the feast day of St. Laserian, also known as St. Molaise. He is regarded as one of the 12 apostles of Ireland – these were 12 saints who trained under St. Finian (who was born in Myshall, Carlow) at Clonard Abbey in Meath. He lived during the 6th and 7th centuries and is venerated in both Ireland and Scotland. His name means ‘flame of fire’ – Laserian comes from the Irish ‘lasair’, or light. Molaise is ‘mo lasair‘ or my light. Continue reading →

Carlow County Museum moonlights as Carlow County Cinema!

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January 16th 2019 marked the 142nd birthday of Michael O’ Hanrahan. Born in Wexford but raised in Carlow, O’ Hanrahan played a highly important role in the 1916 Easter Rising, and was executed by firing squad in Kilmainham Gaol in May 1916. To mark the occasion An Ciorcal Gaeilge watched a special bi-lingual documentary detailing the life of Michael O’ Hanrahan.

dark interior of carlow county museum, several people sit with their backs to us watching a tv screen erected on a wall

An Ciorcal Gaeilge enjoy a multi-lingual documentary on the life of Michael O’Hanrahan who helped found Conradh na Gaeilge in Carlow in 1898.

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Trip to Utrecht

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November 2018

A stone Tower with trees in the front

Dom Tower, Utrecht

 

 

In November, we were delighted to be invited by the St. Jakobus und Johannes Gilde, Emmerich am Rhein, Germany (Guild of St. John and St. James Rhineland), to attend their conference in the town of Kalkar to present a paper on St. Willibrord and his County Carlow connection. St. Willibrord and his missionaries spent time in that area and his influence is still there to this day. St. Willibrord was appointed the first Archbishop of Utrecht, the Netherlands, which borders the Rhineland. Dermot Mulligan, Museum Curator, presented a paper in which he explained St. Willibrord’s training at Rath Melsigi, Co. Carlow and the influence of Irish monks in the 6th and 7th centuries. The Guild are planning a visit to Carlow and Ireland in the Autumn of 2019. Close to Kalkar is the town of Emmerich which is home to the Church of St. Martin. Contained in the church is a beautiful 7th century Relic that was presented to St. Willibrord by Pope Sergius in AD 695 in Rome when Willibrord was installed as the first Archbishop of Utrecht. Continue reading →

Visit from the Hungarian Ambassador

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24 November 2018

Once again we were delighted to have a diplomatic visitor to Carlow County Museum. Back in September we welcomed the Ambassador of Belgium to Ireland and today we were honored with a visit from His Excellency István Pálffy, the Hungarian Ambassador to Ireland, as part of his visit to Carlow with Carlow County Council and the LEO office. He visited the county buildings, the Visual, Carlow College and Carlow County Museum.

 

Seven people in suits smiling at the camera standing in front of a Pulpit in Carlow County Museum

Members of Carlow County Council, Carlow County Museum and Carlow LEO Office meet with His Excellency István Pálffy (center) in front of our 19th Century Pulpit.

 

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Michael Governey Book Launch

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24 November 2018

We were delighted to get our hands on a copy of ‘Michael Governey 1852 – 1924’, written by his grandson Mr. Eugene Carbery. The book was launched last week in the Town Hall, with various guest speakers. Congratulations Eugene for a wonderful and informative book – it’s since become a favourite for our volunteers to borrow when they come into the museum.

A brown and green book on a stone in Carlow County Museum

A copy of ‘Michael Governey’ on display in front of our Governey’s Boot Factory exhibit.

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Lucinda Sly Walking Tour 2018

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On the 2nd November 2018 we held our Lucinda Sly Walking Tour around Carlow County Museum and Carlow Town; the tour was run as part of Scarefest, a week long Halloween celebration around Carlow. The tour tells the tragic tale of Lucinda Sly, who was hanged for murdering her husband in 1835, along with her alleged accomplice John Dempsey.

Group of people in Shamrock Square listening to a tour guide outdoors

Our tour guide John McDarby discusses how Lucinda Sly sold bread and butter in the area around Shamrock Square.

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#worldtourismday and Corcorans!

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Some of our staff and volunteers took the mantra of ‘making history come alive’ a little too literally and stepped into our Teach Tabhairne display to celebrate World Tourism Day early!

The people standing behind a large wooden box one of them pouring a glass of beer, behind them are shelves full of glass bottles

Tomás, Claire, and John busy celebrating World Tourism Day.

Tourism, especially Cultural Tourism, plays an essential role in maintaining and enhancing local history, pride and spirit. Carlow County Museum preserves and exhibits various elements of local history and culture, including Corcoran’s Co. Ltd. and the pub! Continue reading →

Putting on a Show! 

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There’s no place like home Carlow County Museum!

Janice De Bróithe, Director and Producer behind Slapdash Theatre Co. visited us to see a poster for her 2015 show the ‘Wizard of Oz’ on display in our Performing Arts section. All cast and crew are welcome to the museum to see how their hard work has been turned into an exhibit for all of Carlow to see.

Janice de Bróithe stands in front of the poster for her 2015 show.

Janice de Bróithe stands in front of the poster for her 2015 show.