Press Releases26 Nov 04

Galway Families brought to light in new book

GALWAY FAMILIES BROUGHT TO LIGHT IN NEW BOOK
REGISTER OF THE PARISH OF ST NICHOLAS, GALWAY, 1792-1840

Edited by Brigid Clesham

To be launched in St Nicholas?s Parish Church, Galway, at the Patronal Festival Service, 11.30am on Sunday 05 December 2004

On Sunday 05 December 2004 in St Nicholas?s parish church, Galway, the first published edition of the parish?s earliest register of baptisms, marriages and burials will be launched. The volume contains some 1,360 entries recording the lives of members of over 1,000 families, who were parishioners in Galway between 1792 and 1840.

The register includes entries for members of old Galway tribe and gentry families such as the Blakes, Lamberts and Brownes. It also reflects the cosmopolitan and international character of the city with many entries concerning persons from places as diverse as Trinidad, New England, Bordeaux and Stockholm, as well as various parts of England, Scotland and Wales.

Sunday 05 December is St Nicholas?s day. The church in Galway is dedicated to this saint, whose secret patronage of women who had fallen on hard times gave rise to the custom of giving presents on the eve of St Nicholas?s Day ? a tradition transferred to Christmas in more recent times. On St Nicholas?s day there is always a special patronal day festival service in Galway and this year the service will have the additional dimension of the book launch.

The parish will host the event, which will be followed by a celebration reception for all in attendance, at which the editor, Brigid Clesham, formerly a librarian at the James Hardiman Library, will sign copies of the book. The Rt. Revd Michael Mayes, Bishop of Limerick, will be the special preacher, and the celebrant will be the Very Revd Patrick Towers, Rector of Galway. The service and celebrations will be also attended by local celebrities, and the event in keeping with recent tradition in St Nicholas?s is sure to be lively and exuberant.

For further information contact:

Susan Hood, Church of Ireland Publishing Officer - Tel. 01-4923979 or Email

The Very Rev?d Patrick Towers, St Nicholas?s Church - Tel: 086-8140649 or Email