Galway and the Great War

Galway-based historian and archaeologist will give a lecture, under the auspices of the Old Tuam Society, titled “Galway and the Great War”. William Henry is well placed to record the city and county's contribution to and reaction to the Great War, a time of conflict at home and abroad that caused dissent among the citizens of Galway and Tuam. The author devotes a major part of the book to the process of recruitment, of the appeal to fight for King and Country, and to defend the honour of small nations. The campaign was not confined to the men of Galway, as every woman was asked to persuade her "best boy" to join the army or navy.

William does not forget those at home. A chapter of his book is devoted to the increase in employment when munitions factories were opened up in Galway, giving regular employment to women.

His previous books include the highly acclaimed biography, "Supreme Sacrifice: The Story of Eamonn Ceannt" "The Shimmering Waste", "The Life and Times of Robert O'Hara Burke" and "Field of Slaughter, the Battle of Knockdoe 1504".

The venue this month is downstairs in the Tuam Town Hall, on Thursday 17th of May, at 8.30pm. A lecture not to be missed all members and non-members are very welcome.

The Society will be hosting for its third year, in conjunction with Earwig and the Tuam Arts Festival, a night of poetry both readings and "recriminations". For the record you do not have to be a member of the Society to attend, neither will it cost anything. During the evening there will be inputs on the various activities in which the Society is currently involved. There will be a structure in the evening in that various well-known citizens' and members will make contributions but in between anybody who wants can make a contribution. Contributions on the night can vary from the sublime to the ridiculous, and the Society sincerely hopes that this will be the case. Proceedings will commence around 9 p.m. There will be a wide range of poetry books on offer for those people who might like to read, but if you would like to read an original piece or bring your own script that is OK too.