Peadar O’Dowd Memorial Event - Saturday 23 August 2025 - Galway Civic Trust

Date: Saturday, 23 August 2025

At the Mick Lally Theatre & Hall of the Red Earl, Druid Lane, Galway.

As part of our commitment to Galway’s cultural heritage and in celebration of the remarkable life and legacy of historian and founding member Peadar O’Dowd (1941-2024), Galway Civic Trust is proud to host a full day of talks, cultural events, and performances.

Activities will take place at two venues along Druid Lane:

– The Mick Lally Theatre will host a full day of talks, lectures and music.

– The Hall of the Red Earl, across the lane, will host an archaeological tour and an open-mic poetry event.

Hall of the Red Earl Events

Archaeological Tour of the Hall of the Red Earl
Presented by a Galway Civic Trust guide/archaeologist

Open-Mic Poetry Event
Hosted by Skylight 47 Poetry
Celebrate Galway’s poetic voices in this informal, inclusive session.

Mick Lally Theatre Programme

9:00 AM : Galway from a Polish Perspective – Marek Sztendel

10:00 AM : Galway, Exploring Our Foundations – Ian Brophy

11:00 AM : Our Irish Roots: Celts to Monks – Declan O’Shea

12:00 PM : Encastellated Galway in a wider European context – Ronan Harvey

1:00 PM : FILM SCREENING: Ag Trasnú An Atlantaigh Dhuibh / Crossing the Black Atlantic

2:00 PM : A Talk in Memory of Peadar O’Dowd – William Henry

3:00 PM : The Deserted Anglo-Norman Town and Castle at Rindoon, Co. Roscommon – Kieran O’Conor

4:00 PM : Galway Through Time: A Topographical Exploration – Paul Walsh

5:00 PM : The Hall of the Red Earl – Archaeological Excavations – Dominic Delany

6:00 PM : On Raglan Road – Great Irish Love Songs and the Women Who Inspired Them – Gerard Hanberry

7:00 PM – 9:30 PM : Evening Concert – Featuring: Cór na dTreabh (Choir) , Bernard Naughton Musician & Friends, Mick Brown folk singer and Galway Ukulele group.

Galway Civic Trust Launches Peadar O’Dowd Memorial Waterways Tour

Free Guided Tour of Galway’s Historic Waterways Every Week

Galway Civic Trust / Dúchas na Gaillimhe is proud to announce the launch of a new weekly Peadar O’Dowd Memorial Waterways Tour, a free public walking tour celebrating the rich history, architecture, and cultural importance of Galway’s waterways.

The inaugural tour will take place on Wednesday, 20 August 2025 at 2:00 PM, beginning at the Hall of the Red Earl, and will form part of the Peadar O’Dowd Memorial Day events. Thereafter, tours will run every Wednesday at 2:00 PM, starting from the same location.

Led by experienced local historian and tour guide Ian Brophy, the tour will explore Galway’s canal systems, historic mills, bridges, and water-powered infrastructure — much of which was championed and preserved thanks to the lifelong efforts of the late Peadar O’Dowd.

Peadar was a founding member of Galway Civic Trust and a passionate advocate for the city’s waterways. In 1967, he formed the Galway Waterways Preservation Society, successfully campaigning against proposed developments that would have destroyed parts of the Eglinton Canal and the Claddagh Basin. His work laid the foundation for the protection and appreciation of Galway’s unique water-based heritage.

This weekly tour is our way of continuing Peadar’s mission — to educate, protect, and celebrate Galway’s living history.

Details:

Tour Name: Peadar O’Dowd Memorial Waterways Tour
When: Every Wednesday at 2:00 PM (launching Wednesday 20 August 2025)
Where: Starting point – Hall of the Red Earl, Druid Lane, Galway
Cost: Free of charge
Tour Guide: Ian Brophy, Galway Civic Trust

No booking is required. All are welcome. Comfortable walking shoes and curiosity recommended.

For more information, visit: www.galwaycivictrust.ie Or email: info@galwaycivictrust.ie

We warmly invite the entire community to take part in this celebration of Galway’s rich history and the remarkable contributions of Peadar O’Dowd.