Write a commentGaeláras Mhic Ardghail is opening next week and as well as being the centre of the districts Irish Classes (which move from the Gateway Club from Monday) it will be hosting it's very first exhibition "Trioblódi"
The exhibit hosted by the Newry Branch of the Gaelic League marks the culmination of a year long local heritage programme. The varied programme has been steered by Anita Gallagher, with funding provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through its Your Heritage grant programme.
The present exhibition features a wide range of material and artefacts and covers much of the political spectrum from the late 1960s through to the early 1980s. Some paper ephemera and local scrapbooks, and many photographs, help sketch in events in Newry during those years. The exhibition, to be opened by the City Mayor, John McArdle on the 25th of January, is the first one to be staged at the Gaeláras and will be run again in March by which stage the exterior chair-lift (under manufacture in Italy) will be in place. Is mian le Craobh an Iúir ár mbuíochas a ghabháil leis an Crannchur Náisiúnta.
Commenting on Newry Gaelic League’s heritage programme, HLF Committee for Northern Ireland member, Martin McDonald, said: “We are delighted to support this project which has led to the production of this interesting exhibition. We hope the local community enjoy taking part in the project and that many more of people visit the exhibition to learn about the area’s rich and varied heritage.”
Additional copies of the companion essay to the exhibition, by John Mc Caul, are available from the Currency Exchange, 12 Hill Street, Newry.
Newry Gaels have been waiting for many years for their own premises and the Gaels of Oriel in general are looking forward to visiting the centre. Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail has been built with funding from the Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge, Newry and Mourne District Council, Comhaltas Uladh and the Newry Branch’s own funds.
Main events at the Gaeláras will commence with the bilingual exhibition on the Early Years of the Troubles in the context of Newry. This exhibition will run for a fortnight. This is the Newry Branch’s fourth exhibition in the past 12 months, the others having been based on heritage/historical themes: Newry During the Second World War (for Bunscoil an Iúir), Newry History Through Old Bottles, and the recent very successful Saint Brigid’s College Omeath Centenary Commemoration. These events have all been sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Commenting on the new exhibition, Anita Gallagher (the Newry Branch’s Heritage Development Officer, HLF) has said:
‘We are expecting a good attendance during late January as we will have lots of interesting material on display (propaganda, posters, photographs) that will help towards an understanding of Newry’s role in the wider Troubles. There will be undoubted gaps in coverage though we have worked hard at including a wide range of perspectives. Anyone who wishes may add to the exhibition as it progresses. Some fascinating exhibits already agreed to include a series of nine local scrapbooks collated by the Fegan family; a slide-show of some of Newry artist Seán Hillen’s photography (Séan featured last week on a Radio Ulster Arts Special programme); a wide range and nicely balanced selection of LPs/45rpms featuring songs from the main political traditions; and Christmas prison cards as collected by Brendan Curran.
