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. 

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.

Lectures & Events 2018-19

List of LECTURES and events 2018 – 2019

Please note all lectures are held at 8pm in St. Patricks Gateway Centre,

Patrick Street, Waterford, unless otherwise stated.

Lectures are free for members, non-members €5.00

Date	Title	Speaker(s)
28/09/2018	Conflict and Consensus: soldiers and citizens in Waterford city 1820-1920	Dr. Aoife Bhreatnach
19/10/2018	Here Comes the Sun – Solar Symbolism in Early Bronze Age Ireland This lecture is being held in the Parnell Room, Granville Hotel	Mary Cahill
30/11/2018	1918 – Why Did Sinn Fein Win the Elections?	Dr Pat McCarthy
02/12/2018	Annual Lunch Mulled wine reception and lunch, Tapestry Room, Granville Hotel.
	Followed by an illustrated talk The History and Heritage of the Comeraghs	Mark Roper and Paddy Dwane
25/01/2019	Waterford's Archaeology From the Air	Simon Dowling
22/02/2019	Medieval Pilgrimage in Waterford	Dr Louise Nugent
29/03/2019	Waterford and New Ross: Piracy, Court Cases and the Theft of Silver – Medieval Economic Politics in Action	Dr Linda Doran
05/04/2019	Annual General meeting
26/04/2019	Dart: An Irish Family in the Azores and in the World	Dr Jorge Forjaz
24/05/2019	Survival and Revival: the Roman Catholic Clergy of Waterford and Lismore in the Aftermath of the Reformation	Dr Áine Hensey

Lecture: Medieval nunneries in Ireland

Our next lecture will take place this Friday October 20th 2017 -

Topic: Medieval nunneries in Ireland
Speaker: Dr Tracy Collins

Dr Collins’ research focuses on the archaeological evidence for female monasticism in medieval Ireland, with a particular emphasis on the later medieval period. One of the most important late medieval nunneries in Ireland was Kiliculliheen in Ferrybank.

PLEASE NOTE: This lecture will be held in the Parnell room, Granville Hotel.

Time : 8:00pm

Admission: Non-members: €5.00 Students € 2.50

Upcoming Lecture : Archaeological Excavations at Knockhouse

Speaker: Mr Fintan Walsh

Topic: Archaeological Excavations at Knockhouse

Date: Friday 21 October 2016

Venue: Granville Hotel, 8:00 pm

Admission: €5.00 (members free)

In 2014 and 2015 Fintan Walsh of IAC directed a series of archaeological investigations at Knockhouse Lower in advance of industrial development. The site, which is on the western outskirts of Waterford City, had been tilled for many centuries and prior to the excavation no above-ground monuments were visible. However, methodical and painstaking archaeological excavation revealed the remains of an early medieval ringfort. Some evidence was uncovered for the former existence of structures within the ringfort, including two souterrains (underground storage or hiding places). The ringfort was associated with a series of field boundary ditches which radiated from it as well as a number of contemporary cereal drying kilns. Evidence for earlier prehistoric activity was also uncovered, including Bronze Age fulachtaí fia (burnt mounds) and settlement activity dating to both the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. Fintan’s illustrated lecture will give a comprehensive overview of the results of the excavations at Knockhouse Lower.

Heritage Week Talk : Everyday Life in Waterford in 1916

As part of Heritage week,  Waterford Archaeological & Historical Society will have a  series of mini-talks and visual displays presented by committee members.

A look at Waterford City in the Year 1916 - The Way We Were, snapshots of everyday life in Waterford City over 12 months in 1916. 

Date & Time :  Thursday 25th August at 7.30 pm 

Venue: Tapestry Room, Granville Hotel, The Quay

Admission: Free event 

Extra Event for Heritage Week

To coincide with Heritage week 2015, and the 40th anniversary of the publication of the society's journal - Decies, we have arranged an extra event as part of the summer season to take place on Friday 28th August.

Title: Looking back on 40 years of Decies

Presented by committee members, this will be a visual display and readings of extracts from articles published in past editions of Decies.

Copies of past editions of Decies will be on display on the night.

Venue/Time: The Parnell Room, The Granville Hotel, The Quay, Waterford at 8pm.

Free admission, all welcome.