Celebrating St Willibrord, Patron Saint of Luxembourg & His Carlow Connection

During June 2017, the international celebrations for ‘St. Willibrord, Patron Saint of Luxembourg and his Co Carlow Connection’ occurred in both Co Carlow and in Echternach, Luxembourg. The planning for these events began two and a half years ago and the project has been developed by the Museum in partnership between Carlow County Council; the Carlow Historical and Archaeological Society; the Carlow Cathedral Parish; the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin; the Diocese of Leighlin; St. Laserian’s Cathedral, Old Leighlin; the Department of History, National University of Ireland, Galway; the Willibrordus Bauverein (Willibrord Foundation), Echternach, Luxembourg and Tully’s Travel, Carlow. The overall coordination from the Carlow side was provided by the Museum on behalf of Carlow County Council.

A photo of part of the Carlow pilgrimage to Echternach in the Town Square, Echternach with Bishops Burrows and Nulty and Cllr. John Murphy, Cathaoirleach of carlow County Council

St Willibrord has appeal across the many Christian communities particularly for Roman Catholics, Anglican and Old Catholics. Through the mists of time his Carlow connection, for the most part had been forgotten, but through academic research by Professor Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, Department of History, NUI Galway over the past thirty years this connection has been re-established.

In 2000, a group from Echternach last visited the county. In 2002 Henri, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg paid a state to Ireland and 2009 President Mary McAleese as part of her state visit to Luxembourg visited Echternach and spoke of the connection. Since then an active relationship has developed between organisations in both Carlow and Echternach, in particular between the Willibrord Foundation and Carlow County Museum, operated by Carlow County Council. Carlow County Museum has opened a free year long exhibition about St. Willibrord, his time in Carlow, his mission, his present-day impact, a UNESCO World Heritage Status ‘hopping procession’ held annually in Echternach. A copy of Willibrord’s writing is on display in the exhibition along with samples of the beautiful manuscripts that were produced in Echternach. It is clear when looking at them that they are heavily influenced by the Irish manuscripts that these islands are famous for.

The Most Reverend Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg presenting the specially commissioned ‘Relic of St. Willibrord’, Patron Saint of Luxembourg, to the Most Reverend Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin

The Most Reverend Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg presented the specially commissioned ‘Relic of St. Willibrord’, Patron Saint of Luxembourg, to the Most Reverend Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin on Monday June 5th to, in the Basilica of St. Willibrord to honour the historical links between the town of Echternach in Luxembourg and Co. Carlow. Both Bishop Nulty and the Right Reverend Michael Burrows, Bishop of Cashel, Waterford, Lismore, Ferns, Ossory and Leighlin lead a joint ecumenical diocesan pilgrimage of nearly sixty people from Carlow to Echternach to not only accept the relic but to also partake in the UNESCO World Heritage Status annual ‘hopping procession’ in honour of St. Willibrord in Echternach.

The Monday night saw the Basilica of St. Willibrord host a prayer service led by Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, Papal Nuncio to Luxembourg. It was during this service that Archbishop Hollerich addressed the packed Basilica and explained the presence of the Carlow group and that he had given permission for a Relic of St. Willibrord to be presented to Carlow to thank Carlow and Ireland for training, ordaining and instilling in Willibrord his missionary zeal. A bronze statue of a young St. Willibrord is holding the Relic, a piece of his bone, which is contained in a model of the Basilica. Willibrord is standing on a piece of sandstone taken from the remains of his original abbey, which is in the crypt of the Basilica.

On Tuesday, after 8am Mass the assembled clergy lead the Relic of St. Willibrord out from the Basilica of St. Willibrord into the adjoining square of the secondary school where thousands have gathered. The procession began with a large group walking the route reciting the Litany of St. Willibrord. The Relic then followed being carried by local firemen along the route. They in turn were followed by over 10,000 people hopping from their left to right foot in his honour. Each of the thirty-nine hopping groups are led by a marching band all playing the exact same tune.

The Carlow pilgrims are the first known Irish group to partake in this procession, which received UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2010. The Carlow group was wonderfully led by members of the Presentation School Band from Carlow town under the baton of Edwina Hayden, Music Teacher. The group, like all the groups, hopped in rows of five people joined together by white handkerchiefs. The procession, a physical pilgrimage, is known as the ‘people who pray with their feet’. The Presentation Band and the hopping Carlow pilgrims received a warm welcome from the many thousands who lined the streets to watch the procession, being applauded on many occasions. The group then entered the Basilica, hopped down the side aisle, down into the crypt under the altar and past St. Willibrord’s remains. Upon remerging from the Basilica, the historic first hopping procession for the Carlow group ended, all who travelled enjoyed the experience and have a deeper understanding of St. Willibrord and an appreciation for how important he is to the people of Luxembourg.

The Presentation Band leading the Carlow pilgrimage during the annual ‘hopping procession’.

Cllr. John Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council was joined on the pilgrimage by Cllr. Fergal Browne, Chairperson of Carlow County Museum; Martin Nevin, Board of Carlow County Museum; Pat Delaney, Director of Services and Dermot Mulligan, Museum Curator. H.E. Mr. Peadar Carpenter, Ambassador of Ireland to Luxembourg, welcomed the group to Luxembourg on Monday June 5th. Later that day the group received a special welcome to Echternach in the Town Hall from Mayor Yves Wengler and Members of Echternach Council.

The Relic of St. Willibrord, Patron Saint of Luxembourg, was brought to its permanent home in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow town on Saturday June 24th. The Relic was walked over 13km from St Laserian’s Cathedral, Old Leighlin (Church of Ireland) to the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow (Roman Catholic) via the beautiful Barrow Way, a national way marked way, along the banks of the river Barrow. The walk was make up of nearly two hundred people from Ireland and Luxembourg and led by the Right Reverend Michael Burrows, Bishop of Cashel, Waterford, Lismore, Ferns, Ossory and Leighlin and the Most Reverend Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.

Arriving on Thursday June 22nd, twenty-nine visitors travelled from Echternach to Carlow and spent four days here. The highlight was the ‘Walk with Willibrord’ which began at the Holy Well in Old Leighlin at 10am on the morning of Saturday 24th. The Service continued in the nearby St. Laserian’s Cathedral, Carlow oldest working building. Shortly after 11am the relic was carefully placed in the back of the Carlow Civil Defence vehicle and with music from pipers from the Killeshin Pipe Band the two hundred people led by Bishops Burrows and Nulty began the walk to Carlow Cathedral. After a stop for refreshments in the Leighlinbridge Parish Centre the walk entered the Barrow Way and headed in the direction of Milford. At the stops along the walking route at Leighlinbridge, Milford, Clogrennan (Lanigan’s Lock), St. Clare’s Church Graiguecullen and St. Mary’s Church both Bishops Burrows and Nulty led the group in prayers and reflection assisted by local clergy.

Friends from Echternach visiting the site at Rath Melsigi

In Carlow town the Relic was walked in procession from St. Clare’s Church to St. Mary’s Church and then onto the Cathedral of the Assumption. Members of the Carlow Fire Service carried the Relic through the streets of the town, mirroring the tradition in Echternach where their Fire Service carry the Relic at the head of their annual hopping procession. The procession in Carlow was led by the Presentation Band, who had been to Echternach earlier in the month, who played the hopping tune as they approached the Cathedral and the visitors from Echternach hopped to the front door of the Cathedral.

At a reception hosted by Carlow County Council, on Friday June 22nd, the visitors were welcomed to Carlow by both Cllr. William Paton, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council and Cllr. Jim Deane, Mayor of the Municipal District of Carlow. To mark the joint visits and celebrations the group from Echternach were presented with a vellum manuscript commissioned by Carlow County Council, the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin and the Diocese of Leighlin. This book was made by Tim O’Neill, one of Ireland’s foremost calligraphers. Through time and for a variety of reasons Echternach no longer has any original manuscripts and this was opportune for the people of Carlow to present a unique hand-written book honouring the recent visits to both countries. The book, which will be displayed in Echternach, contains the words of St. Willibrord that he wrote in AD 728 in Echternach in a book he brought from Carlow. The rest of the book gives a brief outline of the historical connection and then lists the near sixty people who travelled from Carlow to Echternach and partook in the hopping procession and then lists the twenty-nine Echternach people who have travelled to Carlow and partook in the ‘Walk with Willibrord’.

On the morning of Saturday June 24th, the group had a private visit to Killogan/ Rath Melsigi, the site of the 7th century Anglo-Saxon settlement where Willibrord spent twelve years. This visit to this site was facilitated by the landowner. At the site the reflection was led by Bishop Michael Burrows, a speech by Pierre Kauthen, Willibrord Foundation, and a group hop by all present. The visit to the site was an integral part of the visit to the county. On Sunday June 25th, the group visited the Museum and viewed the exhibition and expressed their satisfaction with it.

Presentation to Pierre Kauthen of a new book for Echternach. (L to R) Bishop Burrows, Cllr. Fergal Browne, Chairperson; Cllr William Paton, Cathaoirleach; Pierre Kauthen, Cllr Jim Deane, Mayor and Jim Townsend.

The project was shortlisted in the Chambers Ireland “Excellence in Local Government 2017 Awards” in the “Commemorations & Centenaries” category. The Feast of St Willibrord was celebrated, for the second year, on Tuesday November 7th in the Cathedral of the Assumption at 7.30pm led by the Most Reverend Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. The newly presented Relic of St Willibrord was displayed in front of the altar.

On Sunday 12th, November KCLR96FM Radio Station broadcast their one-hour radio documentary ‘Carlow Hops to Luxembourg’. The documentary was made in association with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and Carlow County Council through Carlow County Museum. The documentary followed the historic Carlow pilgrimage to Echternach, Luxembourg and the ‘Walk with Willibrord’ when the Relic of St. Willibrord was installed in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow. The documentary was produced by Monica Hayes, KCLR96FM and the documentary can be found at: http://kclr96fm.com

There is an article by Dermot Mulligan, Museum Curator, in “Carloviana 2018” about the events that took place in June while the front cover of the journal features a photograph by Alain Muller, Willibrord Foundation, of the Irish/ Carlow stained-glass window in the Basilica of St. Willibrord in Echternach. The Willibrord Foundation’s newspaper “Feliciter” November edition featured several articles about the June events. They have also produced a “Credit Card” featuring an Irish blessing and a card about Irish spirituality with a photo of the Carlow Relic of St. Willibrord. They are forwarded a thousand cards for distribution at both Cathedrals and at the Museum.

Thanks to the following individuals and organisations for their assistance:
The Amenity Trust, Carlow; Cllr Fergal Browne, Chairperson, the Board and staff of Carlow County Museum; the Right Reverend Michael Burrows, Bishop of Cashel, Waterford, Lismore, Ferns, Ossory and Leighlin; Carlow Cathedral Parish Centre; Members and staff of Carlow County Council including Mr. Pat Delaney, Director of Services, the Carlow Civil Defence and the Carlow Fire Service; His Excellency Peadar Carpenter, Irish Ambassador to Luxembourg; Maria Cristina Pirvu, Bibliothèque Nationale de France; Very Rev. John Cummins, Administrator Carlow Cathedral; the Deacon Family, Garryhundon; Marc Diederich, Monsieur le Président‚ Willibrordus Bauverein and its members including Pierre Kauthen and Alain Muller; Louise Doyle, Tully’s Travel; Fr John Dunphy, Parish of Graiguecullen & Killeshin; His Excellency Patrick Engelberg, Luxembourg Ambassador to Ireland; Francis Erasmy, Monsieur le Recteur de la Basilique St-Willibrord; Garda Siochana, Carlow including Superintendent Gerry Redmond and Sergeant Michelle Byrne; the Very Revd. Tom Gordon, Dean of St Laserian’s Cathedral, Old Leighlin; Dr Janet Gunning, Durham Cathedral Library; Monica Hayes, KCLR 96FM; the Most Reverend Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg; Fr Ed Hone, Luxembourg; Gary Hughes; the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs; the Killeshin Pipe Band; Alex Langini, Abbey Museum, Echternach; Leighlinbridge Parish Centre; Rev Paul Maxwell, Avril Hogan, Carlow Methodist Church; Martin Nevin; the Most Reverend Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin; Prof. Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, Department of History, National University of Ireland, Galway; Fr Conn Ó Maoldhomhnaigh, President of Carlow College; Tim O’Neill, calligrapher; Rajeenee Permale, Luxembourg Embassy, London; the Presentation School Band under the baton of Edwina Hayden, Music Teacher; Bryan Rose, Luxembourg; Sharon Sutton, Trinity College Library; Jim Townsend; Joe Tully, Tully’s Travel; Waterways Ireland including Rosanna Nolan, Engineer & Jim Butler, Foreman; Monsieur le Maire, Yves Wengler, Echternach Council; Rev. David White, St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Carlow town and the near 60 people who travelled from Ireland to Echternach and the 29 people who travelled from Echternach to Ireland in June 2017.


St Willibrord - Art Competition

In celebration of the Feast of St Willibrord, Patron Saint of Luxembourg and his Co Carlow connection the Right Reverend Michael Burrows, Bishop of Ossory, Cashel, Ferns, Lismore, Waterford and Leighlin along with the Most Reverend Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin invited 5th and 6th class pupils in primary schools in Co. Carlow to take part in an art competition.

In May, the winners of the competition gathered in Carlow County Museum, with their parents and teachers to accept their plaques and a class arts supply voucher from Cllr. Fergal Browne, Chairperson of Board of Carlow County Museum and Bishops Burrows and Nulty. First place went to Hannah Kehoe 6th Class Borris N.S.; second place to Zach Cassells 6th Class, Carlow N. S. and joint third place to Kacper Gniedziejko 6th Class, Scoil Molaise, Old Leighlin and Catelyn James Gibbons 6th Class, St Mary’s N. S., Bagenalstown. Their pieces featured aspects of St Willibrord’s life, the life of a monk, the illuminated manuscripts they produced and medieval religious settlements from Co. Carlow.

Dedication of a gallery in honour of the O’Hanrahan Family

On Saturday 11th March the Carlow County Museum temporary exhibition gallery was dedicated in honour of the O’Hanrahan Family/ Uí Annracháin for their contribution to Irish independence. They lived at 90 and 91 Tullow Street in the late 19th and early 20th century. The dedication and plaque unveiling was performed by Pearse O’Hanrahan, great grandnephew of the Richard and Mary O’Hanrahan, and grandnephew of their children Harry, Micheál, Edward, Áine (Ciss), Máire and Eily. Richard was a member of the Fenian’s and 2017 marks the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of their rebellion in 1867. Pearse was accompanied by his brother Harry and several other O’Hanrahan relations were present including Deirdre Lawlor a grand and great grandniece of the O’Hanrahan’s being honoured.

Present at the unveiling were Cllr. John Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council; Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Chairperson of the Carlow Ireland 2016 Committee and Cllr. Fergal Browne, Chairperson of the Board of Carlow County Museum.

(L to R) Cllr. John Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council; Harry and Pearse O’Hanrahan; Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Mayor and Chairperson of the Carlow Ireland 2016 Committee; Cllr. Fergal Browne, Chairperson of the Board of Carlow County Museum and Deirdre Lawlor.

Speaking at the dedication Pearse O’Hanrahan, who had travelled from Dundalk, said he was very pleased that the entire family were being honoured and he thank both Carlow County Council and the Museum Board for the gesture. To those present at the dedication it was clear that Pearse spoke from the heart when he mentioned all the family members and their roles. They were involved in the many organisations including the Irish Republican Brotherhood, The Irish Volunteers and Cumman na mBan. He gave special mention to the three sister Áine (Ciss), Máire and Eily who were all born in Carlow and that they had a proud and important role in the Rising. He focused on how the family home in Dublin was at the centre of the creation and storing of the arms that would be used in the Rising. Importantly, despite being raided by the British army no arms were ever found in the house and this was something the sisters were very proud of.

Cllr. John Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council said that the O’Hanrahan’s, ‘during both the 19th century and the 20th century, played their part in the struggle for independence. The O’Hanrahan name is still remembered in the town with O’Hanrahan’s GFC named in honour of Micheál.’ He thanked ‘the O’Hanrahan’s GFC for loaning the ‘O’Hanrahan Cup’ to the Museum for display. This cup was originally presented by the O’Hanrahan sisters to the club in memory of Micheál.’ He also mentioned that Harry and Micheál were founder members of The Workman’s Club, the last such club in the country.

Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Mayor of the Municipal District of Carlow and Chairperson of the Carlow Ireland 2016 Committee said ‘the O’Hanrahan family made a huge contribution to the 1916 Rising and to life here in Carlow. It is therefore very fitting that this gallery is dedicated in honour of them’ and that they lived very close to where the Museum is located today.

Cllr. Fergal Browne, Chairperson of the Board of Carlow County Museum speaking as Gaeilge in honour of Micheál being a founder of the Carlow branch of Conradh na Gaeilge spoke on the importance of Irish culture to the family and the role they played in promoting this and especially the language.

This exhibition gallery, that has been dedicated to the O’Hanrahan family, displays the Museum’s rotating and temporary exhibitions. Following the dedication Pearse along with his brother Harry unveiled the stone plaque confirming the dedication. This was followed by the presenting of a special Carlow County Council 1916 – 2016 medal to Pearse O’Hanrahan jointly by Cllr. John Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council; Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Chairperson of the Carlow Ireland 2016 Committee and Cllr. Fergal Browne, Chairperson of the Board of Carlow County Museum.

Creative Ireland & Cruinniú na Cásca

Following on from last year’s successful one hundred anniversary of the 1916 Rising commemorations across the country and Co Carlow, ‘Creative Ireland’ has been established as the legacy programme of these commemorations. This programme will operate in all local authorities for the next five years. Carlow County Museum very successfully coordinated for just over two years the ‘Carlow Ireland 1916’ programme, which saw the county host over sixty events. The coordination for Creative Ireland is being undertaken by the Arts Office. On Easter Monday 2017, all local authorities were asked to organise free events for ‘Cruinniú na Cásca’, held nationwide on Easter Monday, the day the Rising began. The Museum, Library and Visual all participated. The Museum provided a free tour of the Museum at which up to thirty people attended.

Presentation of the ‘Re-imagined Proclamations’

As part of Ireland 2016, during the Centenary year each primary school in the county took the opportunity to voice their concerns and hopes for the future in writing a new ‘Re-imagined Proclamation’. As part of the Carlow 1916 Programme, Carlow County Museum in association with the Carlow Arts Office invited primary schools across the county to submit their new Proclamations to be printed on an original printing press. The Museum teamed up with Jack and Paul Byrne, father and son, from Newark Printers, Clogrennane, who still have a working hand printing press which uses the same technique as used to print the original Proclamation in 1916.

Paul Byrne, Newark Printers working with the students to print their re-imagined Proclamations with Jack Byrne in the background.

The schools took part in ‘printing press workshops’ led by Newark Printing in Carlow County Museum which was thoroughly enjoyed by both students, parents and staff alike. The students were given the rare opportunity to help set up the letter press and assist with the printing of their new proclamation.

On 28th June, the participating students, their parents, Principals and teachers came together in Carlow Town Hall to receive their framed Re-Imagined Proclamations presented by Cllr Fergal Browne, Chairperson of the Board of Carlow County Museum; Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Chairperson of Carlow Ireland 2016 committee along with Jack and Paul Byrne, Newark Printers. One copy of the newly printed proclamations will be displayed in the Museum.

A group photo of the participating schools receiving their Re-Imagined Proclamations in the Town Hall from Cllr Fergal Browne, Chairperson of the Board of Carlow County Museum; Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Chairperson of Carlow Ireland 2016 committee along with Jack and Paul Byrne, Newark Printers.

The participating schools in this Carlow Ireland 2016 initiative were: Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Tullow; Bennekerry N.S.; Scoil Molaise, Old Leighlin; Our Lady Queen of Universe N.S., Bagenalstown; Kildavin N.S.; Scoil Mhuire Lourdes, Tullow and St Mary's N.S., Bagenalstown.

Ireland 2016

On Wednesday 18th October Heather Humphries, TD, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht launched the book ‘Centenary’ in the GPO, O’Connell Street, Dublin. The book is a summary of the many activities undertaken across the island to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. The Museum’s stained-glass panel by Peadar Lamb is featured.

Lucinda Sly Anniversary

Carlow County Museum in association with Carlow Shopping Centre and John Mac Kenna, Carlow Library’s Writer in Residence marked the182nd Anniversary of the hanging of Lucinda Sly and John Dempsey at 2:30pm on Thursday 30th March at the Governor’s house in the former Carlow Gaol (now Carlow Shopping Centre). There was a reading by John, assisted by Angela Keogh, from John’s play about Lucinda Sly, followed by a minute’s silence at the exact minute the public hanging of both John Dempsey and Lucinda Sly - the last woman hanged in Carlow Gaol.

Pan Celtic International Festival

For the fourth time in the past six years Carlow town very successfully hosted the International Pan Celtic Festival over the course of Easter Week. The Museum organised several events as part of the programme such as guided tours of the Museum and one at Carlow Castle. The Museum, on behalf of the festival committee, hosted several open story telling sessions which saw several of the visiting delegations attend and perform.

Hillfort Study Group

The ‘Hillfort Study Group’ based at the University of Oxford held their three-day annual outing in Ireland over the weekend of Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd April. They based themselves in Carlow town and hosted their meeting in the Cathedral Parish Centre followed by a visit to the Museum where they were welcomed by Cllr. Fergal Browne, Chairperson and members of the Board of Carlow County Museum.

(L to R) Professor William O’Brien, Department of Archaeology, UCC; Noreen Whelan and Martin Nevin, Board of Carlow County Museum; Dr Eileen Wilkes, Chairperson of the Hillfort Study Group; Dr Wendy Morrison, Secretary of the Hillfort Study Group; Cllr Fergal Browne, Chairperson of the Board of Carlow County Museum; Cllr. John Murphy, Chairperson (Cathaoirleach) of Carlow County Council and Dermot Mulligan, Museum Curator.

Heritage Week Lecture

As part of Heritage Week 2017 the Museum, in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Tinryland Parish Hall, organised a lecture ‘Roundabout Archaeology, discovering Ballinacarrig’s ancient origins’ on Monday August 21st last. Ms. Kate Taylor of archaeological company TVAS (Ireland) Ltd, who undertook the excavations, presented the lecture in the Tinryland Parish Hall. TII provided funding to Carlow County Council to construct a roundabout at the junction of the N80 and L1028 in Ballinacarrig, on the Wexford road opposite the Wexford Road Business Park, just outside Carlow town.

(L to R) Ms. Kate Taylor, TVAS (Ireland) Ltd, Cllr. Fergal Browne, Chairperson of Carlow County Museum and Cllr. Jim Deane, Mayor of the Municipal District of Carlow.

The excavation revealed the remains of several phases of human activity. In the late prehistoric era, about 2000 years ago, a circular ditch was dug to demarcate a place of burial. Deposits of cremated human bone were found in the ditch; small glass beads were found with some of the cremated bone. Some of the finds were displayed at the lecture with the permission of the National Museum of Ireland.

Eureka, Science Festival

IT Carlow coordinated the ‘Eureka, Science Festival’ from the 13th to the 18th of November. The festival received funding from the Science Foundation of Ireland (SFI) and will focused on promoting STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and mathematics). The Museum along with the Library and the Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society (CHAS) were involved in different aspects of the festival events. It is hoped that it will become an annual event. On Saturday 18th November IT Carlow hosted a seminar on William Dargan, to mark the 150th anniversary of his death. The seminar was organised by the Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society and supported by Carlow County Council, through the Museum, and IT Carlow. For one week, the Dargan centre in IT Carlow displayed, on loan, the bust of William Dargan which is displayed in the Museum.

National Museum of Ireland Loan

The Museum has received on loan from the National Museum of Ireland the ‘Ballybit Vessel’. This is an Early Bronze Age pottery vessel found on the estate of Col. Bunbury, Lisnavagh, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow. It was found in 1862 under a granite boulder weighing approximately 2 tonne.

The Bowl Tradition is a specific type of pottery dated to the Bronze Age. The whole exterior is almost always decorated with impressed and incised designs, the Ballybit Vessel is classed as a ribbed bowl. The Ballybit Vessel was found on the Lisnavagh estate, but not because of an archaeological excavation, so it is uncertain of the context of the find, but as it was found under a large granite boulder it may have been part of a cist burial. In an article published in the Journal of Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland in 1862, the Ballybit Vessel was described ‘as sound and fresh in its appearance (without a flaw) as it was when it left the hands of the ancient Celtic potter’. The vessel has been in the national collection since 1928.

Some years ago, some of the personal papers of Mr. Edward O’Toole, school principal in Rathvilly was donated to the Museum by his granddaughter, Noreen O’Keeffe, who had published his memories ‘Whist for your life, that’s treason’ in 2003.

While cataloguing these papers it was discovered in Edward O’Toole’s own hand writing in the book on the History of Rathvilly he describes the extraordinary history of the vessels journey after it was discovered. This information was unknow to the National Museum.

Edward explains that the finder of the vessel, Mr. Lynch, presented the vessel to Col. Bunbury. It was then presented to Mr. Smyth of Little Moyle by Col. Bunbury. Upon the death of Mr. Smyth, the vessel was given to Robert Bell, an auctioneer in Carlow Town, who then presented it to his brother-in-law Mr. Hobson who lived in New York. Upon Mr. Hobson’s death, the vessel was returned to Robert Bell from New York. Edward O’Toole, then wrote to the National Museum informing them of the artefact. The National Museum contacted Robert Bell who presented the Ballybit Vessel to them.

Carlow County Museum are one of twelve museums designated by the National Museum of Ireland to collect and display archaeological objects from their particular county. The return of the Ballybit Vessel has received much publicity. It was featured in the Carlow Nationalist, Tuesday 21st, November; it was the main story of the Carlow People, November 28th, and an interview on the KCLR Live programme on Thursday 30th November last. The KCLR96FM interview was given by Isabella Mulhall, National Museum of Ireland.

The handwritten page from Edward O’Toole’s ‘History of Rathvilly’ detailing the history of the Ballybit Vessel after it was found and before it was handed over to the National Museum of Ireland in 1928. ccm 06-095 extract.

‘The Winter Dress’ play

The Museum hosted the play ‘The Winter Dress’ on the night of Tuesday December 2nd. While the Museum has previously hosted performance and reenactments this was the first time to host a full-length play. The play was written and performed by Angela Keogh along with John McKenna. The play was set in County Carlow and told the story of a dress maker and a monk who meet at Wells, Royal Oak deep in the winter of AD 1348 during the Black death. They share their stories to shorten the journey and discover that they have more in common than first imagined.

Volunteer Expo

The Museum manned a stand at the Carlow Volunteer Centre’s ‘Volunteer Expo’ in Fairgreen Shopping Centre on 14th September, to attract new volunteers and encourage new and returning visitors.

Culture Night

Museum staff conducted a hands on guided tour as part of ‘Culture Night 2017’ which took place on Friday 22nd September last.

TripAdvisor 2017 ‘Certificate of Excellence 2017’

The Museum received a TripAdvisor ‘Certificate of Excellence 2017’. TripAdvisor, claims to be the largest travel site in the world, with more than 60 million members and over 170 million reviews and opinions of hotels, restaurants, attractions and other travel-related businesses. Its reviews are submitted by members of the public and based on these reviews a business receives a rating. This is the second time the Museum has been awarded their ‘Certificate of Excellence’.

Carlow Chamber Awards

Carlow County Museum was nominated in two categories in the Carlow Business Awards 2017, organised by the Carlow Chamber of Commerce. The awards were held in Visual on Thursday 28th September. The Museum was nominated in the ‘Carlow's Hidden Gem’ and the ‘Carlow's Best Tourism Experience (Attractions and Activities)’ categories. The Carlow's Hidden Gem category was won by the Wellwood Centre, Royal Oak while Rathwood Home and Garden won the Carlow's Best Tourism Experience category.

Penfest

On Saturday 24th September, the Museum hosted an afternoon talk as part of the County Library’s ‘Penfest’ weekend. The topic was ‘Writing Local History’ presented Library staff member and self-published author of several books, Christopher Power.

JLK Plaque Unveiled

Bishop Denis Nulty unveiled a plaque to commemorate JKL (Bishop James Doyle) in Carlow College on Tuesday October 2nd. The plaque was awarded to the College by the ‘National Committee for Commemorative Plaques in Science and Technology’ and commissioned by Carlow County Council through Carlow County Museum. The awarding of the plaque recognises JKL’s key role in promoting a national education system, including the teaching of science. The unveiling was followed by a lecture, ‘Bishop Doyle and Irish Education’, by Dr Thomas McGrath, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar of Carlow College. Dr McGrath is a historian who has published three volumes on Bishop Doyle.

Doyle was an educational moderniser who was keen to see the primitive seasonal hedge schools with their ill trained and unregulated teachers replaced by all year-round schools staffed by teachers trained according to the latest thinking in elementary education. His evidence in Westminster was central to the decision to establish the national school’s system and he supported multidenominational education.

Pictured at the unveiling of the plaque to James Doyle (JKL) (L to R): Dr Norman McMillan, Secretary National Committee for Commemorative Plaques in Science and Technology, Dr Tom McGrath, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar, Carlow College; Cllr John Murphy, Cllr Fergal Browne, Chairperson of the Board of Carlow County Museum, Mr. Pat Delaney, Director of Services, Carlow County Council, Cllr Jim Deane, Mayor of the Municipal District of Carlow, Senator Jennifer Murnane-O’Connor, Dr Brian Smyth, Chairman National Committee for Commemorative Plaques in Science and Technology and Monsignor Brendan Byrne.

Local Authority Museum’s Network (LAMN)

Dermot Mulligan has been elected the secretary of the Local Authority Museum’s Network (LAMN) and has stepped down as secretary of the Designated Museums of Ireland Committee.

Museum Board

Carlow County Museum is operated by Carlow County Council in association with the Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society (C.H.A.S.). The Board consists of seven members, three Members of Carlow County Council, three representatives of the CHAS and a Chief Executive’s nominee. The Curator of Carlow County Museum acts as Secretary to the Board.

The Chairperson is chosen from the three Members of the County Council and the three CHAS representatives with the position of Chairperson alternating on an annual basis between the Members of the County Council and the CHAS representatives. At the 2016 AGM Cllr Fergal Browne was elected Chairperson for 2017.

The Board of Carlow County Museum viewing the newly displayed ‘Ballybit Vessel, dating from the Bronze Age, in Carlow County Museum. Also present was Pat Deering TD who is from Ballybit where the vessel was found. (L to R): Noreen Whelan, Gary Hughes, Cllr Walter Lacey, Cllr Andrea Dalton, Dr Seamus Ó Murchú; Cllr Fergal Browne, Chairperson of the Museum Board; John Shortall, Acting County Librarian, Pat Deering TD, and Dermot Mulligan, Museum Curator.

Museum Staff & Volunteers

The Museum has two full time staff, Dermot Mulligan, Museum Curator and John McDarby, Staff Officer with Martin O’Rourke, Maintenance Superintendent, shared staff member with the Library Service. The Museum has access to one and a half position under the Tus Social Scheme which is coordinated by the Carlow County Development Partnership. This position is shared by three people across the week, Ms. Bridget Flannery, Gerald Moore and Mr. Thiru Thirukkumaran. Ms. Kelly Mooney, Graduate Intern recently completed her two years’ contract at the Museum in June 2017 and has subsequently moved to the Arts Office. In December the 6th annual Museum Volunteer Party was held in the Delta Centre and it was attended by many of the Museums dedicated volunteers. The Museum is ever grateful to its many wonderful volunteers who assist all year round.