May Lecture - Tuam Orphan Girls Project

The OTS is delighted to announce details of our May lecture coming up next Thursday, 16 May in Tuam Library at 8 pm. Our guest lecturer Martin Curley has been very involved in genealogical research and local history since returning to Galway in 2013. A native of Guilka, Menough, he has lived in NYC and Liverpool and was involved for many years in emigrant groups. He is also the organiser of the Galway Genetic Genealogy Conference and administers several DNA Facebook groups including the Tuam, Mountbellew and Clonbern-Kilkerrin groups as well as Facebook groups for the Mannion and Donnellan clans. He also works with schools and community groups delivering workshops on Family History and Local Heritage as well as helping families and individuals trace their roots and relations through records and DNA.

The genesis of the Tuam Orphan Girls Project came about on discovering an 1849 Tuam Herald report of the Board of Guardians for the Tuam Union where the Australian authorities detailed the condition of girls who had been residents of Tuam Workhouse a year after leaving Tuam for a better life in Australia. Martin has worked in the very successful Mountbellew-Palestine Orphan Girls Project where descendants were invited to return to Mountbellew where their ancestors had left in 1852. This work meant that some descendants were able to meet their Irish cousins and Martin hopes a similar project would be helpful for Tuam. He is hoping that by pooling the resources and talents of people in Australia and Ireland to help that it would make this possible.

Venue: Tuam Library, High St.

Date: Thursday, 16 May

Time: 8 pm