On Tuesday, 18th August, during National Heritage Week, the ISACS Network presented ‘Voices of the Showmen’ at the University of Galway with our partners Irish Showmens Guild, the University of Galway Library and Archives Ireland.
This event marked the official launch of the Voices of the Showmen Oral History Archive, which is now live on the University of Galway Library website.
This archive captures the memories, the history and the legacy of show families of Ireland. It features extensive interviews with members of the Irish travelling show, variety acts, fairgrounds, fit-ups, travelling cinema and the classical circus community, as they share their experiences of life across the last century and memories passed down through word of mouth.
Voices of the Showmen is supported by the Heritage Council. To learn more about this project, see Towards an Irish Showmen’s Archive Report.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the event, with special thanks to our guest speakers:
- Monica Crump – University Librarian, University of Galway
- Lughán Deane – Oral Historian and videographer
- Lucy Medlycott – ISACS project lead
- Thelma Fox McFadden – Irish Showman’s Guild project partner
- Terri McCormick O’Gorman – Irish Showman’s Guild historian
Look back at the event photos below.
