The Gathering 2013

We've heard some talk of a great reunion of Irish people from all around the world taking place in Ireland in 2013. 

This year long celebration is called 'The Gathering 2013'.  With 70 million Irish descendents worldwide this should make a great party!

The National Archives provide a great online service for you to check your lineage from the 1901 census and the 1911 census, this is free for your use - all you need is some time.  There are also geneology services which will be able to delve deeper into your family tree should you wish to find out more.

On the National Archives website there are features written on aspects of life in Galway and Connemara in the early 20th Century.  If you scroll down that link you will see information convering the Galway to Clifden Railway line which was built in 1895.  It also features information on the Marconi wireless and telegraph company which established the first commercial transatlantic telegraph service, connecting Clifden to Glace Bay in Nova Scotia in 1907.

Some of the families from the 1901 census on the Renvyle Peninsula include Blake, Connely, Coyne, De Morgan, Flaherty, Hare, Loughlin, Rane, Ribbon, Salmon, Kilcoyne, Heanue, Conneely, Faherty, Malley, Connolly, King, Cannon and Connis.

'House 1' in Rusheenduff was Renvyle House Hotel and there are details of all who were in the house the night the 1901 census was taken, their ages and their titles.

The 1901 Census Page for Renvyle House Hotel  Click >> HERE

There is also a very interesting book on line for the Renvyle Blakes (1600 to 1700) - for any Blakes doing research.  Click >> HERE

We will be doing more research in the coming weeks but if you have time, enjoy looking into your family background in the meantime.

Renvyle House Fireplaces

Renvyle House Hotel Connemara, Arts & Crafts Fireplaces

This post is to explain somewhat, the architecture and design of the old house at Renvyle House. It is a country house, a low lying Lutynesque style which suits it rural coastal location (it is not a country manor as most of us might imagine). The house was rebuilt in the Arts and Crafts style after it had been burned down in the Irish Civil of the 1920′s. There are over 20 different orifinal fireplaces throughout the house which have been recorded in the Album below. You will also see from our old Brochures, one from the 1930′s (on this Blog) that the present owners have maintained the ethos of this building as much as possible.

Wikipedia describe the Arts & Crafts Movement as, (and here is where I get lazy, as I would not be able to put it much better!): "an international design movement that originated in England and flourished between 1880 and 1910, continuing its influence up to the 1930s. Instigated by the artist and writer William Morris (1834–1896) in the 1860s and inspired by the writings of John Ruskin (1819–1900), it had its earliest and fullest development in the British Isles but spread to Europe and North America as a reaction against the impoverished state of the decorative arts and the conditions under which they were produced.

The movement advocated truth to materials and traditional craftsmanship using simple forms and often medieval, romantic or folk styles of decoration. It also proposed economic and social reform and has been seen as essentially anti-industrial."

There's plenty more information, but I think I might try to write it myself.

In the meantime, here are some of the many Arts and Crafts fireplaces in the public areas and bedrooms in the hotel (not all mind you). They are each unique, with a unique design, in fact fairly unique architecturally in Ireland.

Renvyle House 1950’s Brochure

Renvyle House Brochure 1950's

We had a guest with us last week, who is a regular at Renvyle House. This lady spent part of her honeymoon in Renvyle House in 1957 (although I found that difficult to believe as I would have placed her as a decade or two younger). This lovely lady had been spring-cleaning at home and came across a brochure from Renvyle House from the late 1950′s while on honeymoon and gifted it to us.

We're gathering quite a collection of memorabilia now, which is very interesting. The photos in this brochure are similar to those in the 1930′s brochure with one or two changes. The content is also slightly different. One particular photo that took my interest was the last one in the brochure, where there were individual garages for guests cars where the family apartments are now.

Click Here to view the 1950′s Brochure in PDF format Renvyle House Hotel 1950′s Brochure

Fishing in Connemara in the 1960’s

Renvyle House 1930’s Brochure

Renvyle Old Brochure

A regular guest at Renvyle House gave us a tip-off on this old brochure of Renvyle House on sale on e-bay. The seller was from the UK. We're assuming the brochure is from the 1930's as it refers to the Galway to Clifden Railway which was in operation for forty years from 1895 to 1935. It also mentions that if you left Euston Station (London) at 8.45pm you would arrive in Renvyle House the next day at 2pm.

The main rooms in the house have not changed much since then, we are still keeping to the Arts & Crafts design of the late 1800's and early 1900's. To back up our assumption that this brochure is from the 1930's, on the Tariff sheet there are separate charges for Visitor's Servants' quarters. Mrs. Gogarty appeared to charge for everything!

It's also written very well with paragraphs starting: "Visitors desirous of being met at Clifden Station by the Hotel Servants should kindly advise the Manager in advance. A comfortable car for this purpose is provided by the Hotel, at a nominal charge."

Leisure facilities in the 1930′s included "Sea and Surf Bathing, Sands for Children, Ponies, Sea and Lake Fishing, Shooting, Beautiful Scenery, Tennis Courts" We hope you enjoy reading through it. We will have a pdf format of it available for anyone who would like a closer look, please email us for it.

You can view the the 1930′s Brochure here >> Renvyle House Hotel 1930′s Brochure