Galway City Museum is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant of almost €26,000 under the Heritage Council’s 2026 Heritage Stewardship Fund to support the digitisation of the William Henry and John Monahan Collection. Read more...
Recorded by William Henry and the late John Monahan, the remarkable collection comprises more than 180 cassette tape recordings of historical and cultural lectures delivered in Galway between the 1970s and early 2000s to members of the Old Galway Society and Galway Archaeological and Historical Society. The talks feature distinguished researchers, academics, and authors of local and national renown, including Peadar O’Dowd, Donal Taheny, Jim Higgins, Maurice Semple, Etienne Rynne, Caitríona Clear, Marie Boran, and Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh.
Brendan McGowan, Education Officer at Galway City Museum, who is overseeing the project, said; "The William Henry and John Monahan Collection is of immense value to researchers, and to anyone interested in the history and heritage of Galway, both city and county. The recordings capture the expertise and voices of many individuals well known to Galwegians, some of whom are sadly no longer with us. The grant is the result of significant behind-the-scenes work, and we would like to acknowledge the generosity of William Henry and of the family of the late John Monahan in sharing this invaluable resource."
The grant will fund the digitisation and mastering of the tapes, the creation of a searchable bilingual catalogue, a programme of public engagement, and a launch event planned for the autumn. The work will involve not only the transfer of the recordings to digital format but also cleaning and enhancing the audio to ensure its long-term preservation and accessibility. In time, the collection will be made freely available to researchers, with plans to release selected recordings as a weekly podcast series for a wider public audience.
Brendan McGowan stressed the importance of the Heritage Council’s financial support; "It would be impossible to undertake this project without the support of the Heritage Council, and we are deeply grateful for both their funding and their recognition of the collection’s cultural importance. We are particularly encouraged that the project was recognised by independent assessors for its strong public access focus, including the commitment to making this material freely available for educational use, and for its long-term value in preserving an important recorded heritage resource. The Museum would also like to acknowledge the support of the many individuals and organisations who provided letters of support as part of the grant application."
William Henry who recorded the bulk of the talks over four decades said; "I am in no doubt that my late friend, John Monaghan (President of the Old Galway Society) would be proud to know that his work will form a valuable record in the ‘town he loved so well’. A well-deserved thank you is also due to all the speakers over many years [whom] allowed John and I to record their words. These people, over long hours and pain-taking research, have given an extraordinary insight into Galway’s rich historical landscape."
Brendan McGowan and William Henry will host a public talk about the project at Galway City Museum on Saturday 15 August, during Heritage Week. The digitisation process is currently underway and expected to be completed by the end of August 2026.
The Museum opens Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm and Sundays 12pm-5pm. Free admission.
Visit GalwayCityMuseum.ie for more.
Mayoral Award, 2013 (left to right): Peadar O'Dowd; James Casserly; Ronnie O'Gorman; Terry O'Flaherty, Mayor of the City of Galway; William Henry and Tom Kenny. Each of those pictured alongside the Mayor is represented in the cassette tape recordings.
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