Galway's vast gastronomic heritage

Showcased online

Jacqueline Hogge

Launching the Galway's Gastronomic Heritage Project were Galway County Council Heritage Officer Marie Mannion, Martina Creaven, Cathaoirleach Cllr Eileen Mannion, Elaine Donoghue, Catherine McConnell, Marion Donoghue, Bernie Donnellan, Brian McNally, Christy Cunniffe, Alan Farrell, Eamon O'Donoghue and Michael Herwood.
Photo by Ray Ryan

A NOVEL website charting Galway’s gastronomic heritage has been launched by the Cathaoirleach of the county, Cllr Ellen Mannion.

Heritage groups from Kilerrerin [sic], Milltown and Skehana were among those to gather at Claregalway Castle for the launch of Galway’s Gastronomic History Project, which is a website that showcases a wide range of information on the gastronomic history of the region.

Over 600 items have already been posted to the site, ranging from the different utensils used for cooking down through the years, to the traditional dishes of individual townlands.

Heritage Officer with Galway County Council Marie Mannion said the forthcoming European Region of Gastronomy designation, which the city and county would take up next year, prompted the council to launch project in recent weeks.

 

 

“We have about 30 heritage and community groups throughout the county from Cor na Mona to Ballymoe and Portumna to Inis OIrr, and the wealth of information and artefacts that has come forward has been very impressive,” she said.

We have gathered 427 stories relating to food and food preparation dating back to Famine times.

“ We have the original ledgers used by the travelling shops throughout the county where people can see what the local priest or doctor was buying.  We also have fantastic accounts of the food served at the Stations and at Christmas times and it is a fascinating insight into how food has evolved down through the years.”

Those behind the project intend to produce a special booklet in time for the European Region of Gastronomy celebrations that will list the 101 Great Recipes of Galway, while an interactive map on the council website shows the precise location of every story they have collected, and gives information on that area.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the Galway’s Gastronomic History Project can contact Marie at 091 509198 or log on to http://heritage.galwaycommunityheritage.org.

Published in The Tuam Herald Wednesday 20th September 2017

This page was added on 29/09/2017.

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