A Mix of Music and History for the launch of Decies 75

It was certainly fitting to have the launch of the journal linked to a weekend of musical celebration, (John Dwyer Trad Weekend) since one of the articles concerns the 75th anniversary of the founding of Waterford Music Club, as illustrated on the cover with the photograph of the medallion of the club.

The launch kicked off with
Dr Jimmy O'Brien-Moran 

who played a few tunes on the Uilleann Pipes, 

before rushing off to another venue. 

Some of the contributors to the journal had also been invited to give a short talk related to the article they wrote.

Cian Flaherty talking about the diary of Bishop Stock, written in 1811. 

A great number was in attendance despite the heavy downpours outside.

Continuing the musical theme, Jenny Walsh played a few tunes on the fiddle

There had been great excitement in Dungarvan when excavations on a hill outside the town

 revealed multiple burials had taken place many centuries ago. 

The Gallows Hill Community Archaeology Project took place between 2015 and 2019.

Dave Pollock, archaeologist, stepping in for Christina Knight-O'Connor, gave us an insight on the work done on Gallows Hill. 

The launch was brought to a close with some more music, bringing us nicely back to the modern times

Committee member and former chaiman Sonny Condon on the harmonica 

had us humming along to The Rose.

Peigí Devlin, Hon editor, and her editorial committee:

Clíona Purcell, Shane Brown and Cian Flaherty.

Dr Elizabeth Twohig, Chair of the Waterford Music Club, 

wearing the medallion that appears on the cover of this year's journal. 

Upcoming Events : Lecture on Pirates and Decies 75

Friday 18th October 2019 at 8:00pm in Saint Patrick's Gateway Centre, Patrick Street

Dr Connie Kelleher will give a talk on Pirates, Slaves and Shipwrecks 

Dr Connie Kelleher is a member of the State Underwater Archaeology Unit (UAU) in the National Monuments Service (NMS), Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Former chair and current secretary of the Irish Post-Medieval Archaeology Group (IPMAG),  Connie has published widely and has two books due for publication shortly.

The talk will delve into aspects of the parallel maritime economy that developed on the coast and the waters around Waterford, and the historical and archaeological evidence for these activities.


Saturday 19th October 2019 at 6:00pm in The Granville Hotel, Meagher's Quay

Launch of the 75th edition of Decies 

In conjunction with the John Dwyer Trad Weekend, there will be live music provided by Sonny Condon, while WIT music lecturer and uileann piper Jimmy O'Brien Moran will talk about trad music in Waterford.

Three contributors will also be giving brief talks on their research:

Historian and former Decies editor Des Cowman will discuss new information he has uncovered about how people once lived in the village of Kill.

Coming straight from this summer's dig in Dungarvan, Christina Knight-O'Connor will talk about what archaeologists have discovered beneath the ground at Gallows Hill, a mysterious mound which has been a source of speculation for generations.

Cian Flaherty will explore the significance of a small diary, tucked away on the shelves of Trinity College Dublin.

Copies of the brand new journal will be available for members to pick up, and for non-members to purchase.
Everyone is welcome, so come along to see our members, meet some of our brand new contributors, and to hear about the latest historical research taking place in County Waterford.

Whether you're a student looking for inspiration for a history project, a curious history fan, or are interested in joining a welcoming local society, there's something here for everyone!

See you there!

Imagine Arts Festival: Decies Launch 27th October 2018

Decies Journal Launch 2018

Date: Saturday, 27th October.

Time: 6:00pm

Venue: Parnell Room, Granville Hotel.

Admission: Free Event


As part of the Imagine Arts Festival the local Waterford Archaeological & Historical Society will launch their latest journal Decies No. 74 with talks from contributors and music provided by Rachel Grace.

This year's speakers include Karen Hannon on St. Carthage's Cathedral, Lismore, Co. Waterford and the Currey Family Memorials, the research of which was conducted as  part of Diploma of Genealogy in University College Cork completed in 2017.

Brigid McIntyre will talk on her creative nonfiction article titled A Bride in Tallow, 1941-42 about the early married life of her mother, a very poignant story about love, loss and rural Ireland.

Music is from Rachel Grace, an up and coming Wexford-born singer-songwriter that is firmly paving  her  way towards becoming one of Ireland's leading female artists.

Rachel recently won the busking festival,judged by renowned Jackie Hayden, at The Gorey Market Festival and took to the stage at this years Electric Picnic on Natashas Food Emporium stage on Sunday 2nd September.

Having already released an album in 2015, her new EP 'Routes' was just released on the 27th of May this year. It is available on all major platforms and is already receiving a lot of attention from radio stations. Without any doubt, this EP holds a very promising future for this young artist.

Journal for sale at €15.
All are welcome.

Images: Decies No. 73 Launch - Imagine Arts Festival

Imagine Arts Festival: Decies Journal Launch

Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society launch their annual journal

The Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society is celebrating the launch of the seventy-third volume their annual journal Decies on Saturday 28th October from 6 – 8 pm in the Parnell Room, Granville Hotel, Meagher Quay, Waterford.

The launch is being held to coincide with the Imagine Arts Festival and will include musical performances by The Knotted Chords, a highly regarded Waterford-based folk duo, and short talks by two of the contributors to this year’s journal. Ballyduff native Richard Tobin will talk about his research on some of the personalities involved in the National League, the political party founded by Parnell, in Ballyduff in the 1880s. The stirring trans-Atlantic story of Aglish-born John Cotter who played a significant part in the Gaelic Revival will be told by Brigid McIntyre.

This is a free event and all are welcome, refreshments will be served. Membership of the Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society is open to anyone with an interested in the rich heritage of the Decies. The Annual Subscription is just €25 and entitles members to free admission to our lectures and outings as well as a copy of the annual journal. The membership application form can be downloaded from our website http://www.waterford-history.org. Details of upcoming events can be found on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/waterfordhistory/.

Contact:           James Eogan, PRO, Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society 087 917 3281

Imagine Arts Festival 2017: Decies Journal Launch

Decies No. 73, Saturday 28th October, Parnell Room of the Granville Hotel at 6pm 

As part of the Imagine Arts Festival the local Waterford Archaeological & Historical Society will launch their latest Journal No. 73 which covers many topics from archaeological excavations in County Waterford to the former Waterpark student who established the Irish Air Corps. 

Two of this year’s contributors will give a talk on their respective topics: Richard Tobin, The Cooper, The Racer and the Draper’s Curate: Settling accounts in the Ballyduff National League 1880 to 1891 / Brigid McIntyre, John Cotter - From Aglish to America: a stirring story of a forgotten hero of the Gaelic Revival. Journal for sale at €15.

In Pictures - WAHS Annual Lunch 2013

The Annual Lunch was held in Dooley's Hotel on the Quay, and members and friends enjoyed a lovely meal after the mulled wine reception.The guests of honour on the day were deputy County Mayor, Cllr Gerard Barron, and Heritage Officer, Bernadette Guest,who were both presented with the latest copy of Decies by Chairman Sonny Condon. 

Julian Walton who, with Frank O'Donoghue, had recently launched On This Day, spoke after the meal of memories associated with the recordings of the program in the studios of the local radio station  WLRfm over the year, much to everyone's delight. The book was also available for sale and Julian was quite a busy man as people queued to get their copies signed afterwards.

Bernadette Guest, Sonny Condon, Cllr Gerard Barron and his wife Kay.

Bernadette Guest, Sonny Condon, Julian Walton, Cllr Gerard Barron.

George Kavanagh and Fergus Dillon having a chat.

Dr Eugene Broderick and Dr Pat McCarthy.

Old friends meet again: Seamus Upton and Cllr Gerard Barron

Old friends reunited: the Uptons and the Barrons

Julian Walton 

Julian busy signing his book. 

WAHS Annual Lunch 2012

On Sunday 2nd December last, members and friends from near and far attended our Annual Lunch in Dooley's hotel on the Quay. The guest of honour was His Worship the Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Jim D'Arcy. A good time was had by all, once we had enjoyed the mulled wine reception and the festive meal, a trip 'down memory lane' was presented by vice-chairman Eddie Synnott through a series of slides from the Munster Express photographic archives. Of particular interest were those of the outings of the then Old Waterford Society.

Seated: Fergus Dillon, Chairman, presenting a copy of  'Decies' to the Mayor, Cllr Jim  D'Arcy.
Standing: Michael Maher, Sonny Condon, Eddie Synnott, Kevin P Hall, Tony Gunning, Erica Fay, Séamus Reale, Béatrice Payet, Cian Manning, Donnchadh ÓCeallacháin, George Kavanagh.

WAHS Vice-Chairman Eddie Synnott, Mayor of Waterford Cllr Jim D'Arcy, WAHS Chairman Fergus Dillon

A view of the dining room.

WAHS Annual Lunch - 2011

The Society's Annual Lunch took place in Dooley's Hotel, over 70 members and friends attended the lunch, which was a great success thanks to the efforts of the management and staff of the Hotel. Guests of honour were Deputy Mayor, Cllr Hilary Quinlan, who was presented with the latest edition of Decies, as well as City Manager Michael Walsh, and, representing the county, County Archivist Joanne Rothwell. The guest speaker was Kristin Jameson, who gave an illustrated talk on Tourin House and Gardens, focusing on the rare and old specimen trees one can see in the gardens, and on their origins.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.361757927171442.102881.111574418856462&type=3

November Lecture: Mr William Fraher

The lecture on Friday night was very successful and drew a large audience, as Mr William Fraher gave a talk on the impact of the Civil War on the Big Houses of County Waterford. 

Hon Editor, Donnchadh Ó Ceallacháin presented Mr Fraher with a copy of the latest edition of Decies.

Included in the picture, l-to-r: Mr Julian Walton, Mr William Fraher, Mr Donnchadh Ó Ceallacháin, Mr Michael Maher. 

Just published: Decies 67

Decies ,the Journal of the Society, has just been published and will be available to members at the Annual Lunch on Sunday 27 November.

Saint Patrick's Day and Waterford Connections

In the mid-seventeenth century, the 17 March became a Holiday of Obligation in the Catholic Church. Already celebrated by the Franciscans, Saint Patrick's day was included among the official saints' days by Waterford-born Franciscan Luke Wadding, appointed to the Congregation of the Breviary in Rome.

Wearing of the shamrock and pota Phádraig (drowning the shamrock) were the traditions, and the heavy drinking on that day remained cause for concern through the eighteenth and nineteenth century. There was then a movement to make Saint Patrick's Day a National Holiday, with the implication that all businesses, including public houses, would close for the day. This was adopted in 1903. Here is a letter, in which Waterford Corporation declared that on Saint Patrick's Day, no business would be conducted in the city.

For full article, see Decies 65, pp107-109.

Decies 66 just published!!!

The latest edition of our journal is out! and will be available in local bookshops as soon as the weather permits... Members will, as usual, get theirs through postal delivery.

WAHS End Of Year Activities: Lectures, Lunch, and Decies

The month of November is usually quite a busy one for us. In the last week of the month we have a lecture, our Annual Lunch, the publication of Decies,( the Society's Journal), and this year we are holding and extra lecture in early December.

The Lecture Season continues on Friday 26th November with local historian Mr Jack Burtchaell on the topic: ‘Waterford and Bristol Connections’.

The Annual Lunch, open to members and friends, will take place on Sunday 28th November at Dooley’s Hotel, The Quay, commencing 12.30 with mulled wine/soft drinks reception, and lunch at 1.30. Our after-lunch entertainment, ‘Hazards of the Local History Lecture’ will be provided by a member of the Society, well-known local historian/broadcaster Julian Walton.

Members will be able to collect their copy of the Society’s journal, Decies 66, on the day. Extra copies of journal will also for sale at the price of €20.00.

The Society has added an extra lecture to its winter schedule, to coincide with an exhibition on Waterford and the ESB, which will run in Waterford City Library from 1st to 22nd December 2010. Mr Brendan Delaney, Manager of Heritage and Archives, ESB, will lecture on ‘Ardnacrusha and Waterford’ on Friday 3rd December, at Waterford Museum of Treasures, Hanover Street, 8 pm. There will be no charge on that night to non-members as the event is kindly sponsored by the ESB.