Galway Advertiser 2006/2006_09_07/GA_0709_E1_020.pdf 

Extracted text

20 N E W S

www.galwayadvertiser.ie

September 7 2006

Roundstone group wins top county heritage award for coastal conservation works
BY UNA SINNOTT The Roundstone Beaches Environmental Project has been awarded the 2006 Galway County Heritage Award for its work on protecting the beaches of Roundstone and conserving the associated habitats. The Roundstone Project was among several recipients of awards at the annual heritage awards, which were held in Claregalway last Thursday. The project scooped the overall award at the event for its work on coastal management and stabilising the local headland through coastal protection, replanting of native grasses, and a rerouting of the coastal walkway using natural materials. Awards were presented for each of the county's five electoral areas at the ceremony, along with prizes for best publication, best school project, and the winners of the new garden biodiversity competition. The Aughrim Development Company received the top honour in the Ballinasloe area for its book, Social History of Aughrim Since 1691, which was compiled by the group over five years using information collected locally and from various county and national archives. The book has been well received by reviewers and has helped to bolster awareness of local history in the area. The Ballinruane National School Centenary Committee was the runner up in the Ballinasloe area. The group, comprising people from Moylough and Menlough parishes, formed last year and have produced a book, Until Gooseberries Grow on Tongs, recounting the history of the school, as well as organising a reunion of past pupils and teachers. Brigit's Garden in Pollagh, Rosscahill was honoured in the Connemara area for its work in promoting natural and Celtic heritage. The garden, which opened in 2004, features four gardens symbolising the cycle of life and associated Celtic festivals, along with nature trails through woodlands and wildflower meadows. The garden has received more than 20,000 visitors who have attended educational programmes, seminars, and special events as well as visiting the gardens. The organisers have also worked to promote traditional crafts and conserve and restore local habitats. Pat Lyne, a successful breeder of Connemara ponies and an international judge of the breed, received second prize in the Connemara area. Ms Lyne has bred Connemara ponies for more than 30 years and has travelled extensively promoting the breed, judging competitions, and amassing a wealth of knowledge about the ponies. She has written three books and has set up a museum of research and history on the pony. The Athenry Arts and Heritage Activity Centre scooped the top award in the Loughrea area for its work in promoting the history and culture of Athenry through fun learning programmes and participation in heritage events. The centre also provides a valuable community service, employing and training many people from the local community and providing a quality heritage service for the town. The centre provides a unique experience for school tours and domestic and international tourists, with hands-on exhibits and guided tours of significant heritage sites in Athenry. The centre was also a partner in this year's National Walled Town Day celebrations, which took place last month. The Friends of Coole and Louise Ryan were awarded second prize in the Loughrea area for the very successful recent winter and spring programmes at Coole Park. The initiative, and in particular the Reading the Landscape series of heritage talks, contributed greatly to the understanding of the archaeological, historical, cultural, and natural heritage of south Galway. The programmes also featured theatrical, music, and children's events which help to cement Coole's role as a thriving part of the local community, while the schools programme helped to further an interest in nature among schoolchildren in the area. In the Oranmore area,

Pictured at the presentation of the County Heritage Awards 2006 at the Claregalway Hotel were (from left) Tuam Herald editor David Burke, chairman of the judging panel, and Kathleen Villers-Tuthill, Clifden winner of the Best Publication Award. Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy

Pictured at the presentation of the County Heritage Awards 2006 at the Claregalway Hotel were Anan Burges, manager of Athenry Arts and Heritage Centre and winner of the Loughrea Electoral Area Award; and Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council. Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy

Pictured at the presentation of the County Heritage Awards 2006 at the Claregalway Hotel were the group representing the Journal of The Old Tuam Society Front: Elizabeth Meagher, Mayor, Anne Tierney, Noel Carney, Nollaig Brennan and Marie Mannion, Back: Marguerite Bane-Corbett, Dinny Hannon, Pat O'Hora, Noel Carney, Cllr Michael Connolly, Dr John Waldron, Cllr Tom Reilly, Karen Hughes and Pat Gallagher, County Manager. Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy

Kathleen Davis was honoured for her role in promoting local history through her articles in local newsletter More News, as well as her work in helping people research local history. She is also a member of the Old Galway Society and a founding member of the Galway Bat Group. The Oranmore Heritage Group/Old Graveyard Restoration Group received second prize for its continuing work to conserve the medieval church and graveyards in the centre of the village. The graveyard contains the ruins of an early medieval church along with grave markers from the same period, and the group has worked to conserve this historically and genealogically important site as well as commissioning a number of built and natural heritage reports on the site. In the Tuam area, the Journal of the Old Tuam Society Volume 2 was honoured for helping people to understand the rich heritage of Tuam and its environs. Many of the articles in the journal outline original research, and the publication provides a valuable platform for people to publish their material. Prof Paul Mohr was awarded second prize in the Tuam area for his

biography of John Birmingham of Millbrook House, Milltown. Birmingham was an astronomer, geologist, critic, poet, and surveyor of note as well as a music lover and an athlete. Prof Mohr's book provides the reader with a great insight into Birmingham, who was regarded as one of the greatest astronomers in 19th century Europe and is commemorated by a crater on the moon, which is named Birmingham Crater. Kathleen VilliersTuthill of Clifden won the award for best heritage publication -- sponsored by Galway Rural Development -- for her book, Alexander Nimmo and the Western District, a comprehensive evaluation of Nimmo's pioneering work on the infrastructure of the western district in the 19th century. Beagh Integrated Rural Development was also awarded for several projects undertaken since 1989, including two books on folklore and local history, the restoration of four holy wells, the restoration of Beagh Church and forge, and its current work on Ardimullivan Castle. Doorus National School in Kinvara won first prize in the schools category, sponsored by Galway Education Centre, for

pupils' work in producing a film on The Tidal Mills of Doorus Peninsula. Inspired by the realisation that a local mill was destroyed by a tsunami some 250 years ago, a point they discovered in the wake of the Indian Ocean tsunami, the pupils set about learning more about the area's historical tidal mills. The film highlights a forgotten aspect of Galway's heritage, and draws attention to a sustainable source of energy at a time when alternatives to oilbased energy production are being explored. Kiltartan National School was also awarded for its documentary on the geology and biodiversity of the Gort River, while Woodlawn National School received a prize for pupils' work on a film on the history of Woodlawn House. Kay Synott of Rosscahill won the garden biodiversity competition for her work in developing a wildlife garden at Rosscahill Primary School with the help of children and parents. Runners up in the competition were Catherine Corless of Tuam, who submitted an illustrated plan covering all aspects of biodiversity in the garden, and Ita O'Reilly of Claregalway who has worked to promote biodiversity in her own garden.