A man who was selfless in sharing his passion for Galway’s history and culture will be remembered at a special event in Druid’s Mick Lally Theatre and the Hall of the Red Earl on Saturday, August 23.

The life and legacy of the late Peadar O’Dowd, who died on January 3, 2024, will be celebrated by Galway Civic Trust on that day.

On the previous Wednesday, August 20, Galway Civic Trust will launch the Peadar O’Dowd Memorial Waterways Tour, a free, weekly guided tour of the city’s waterways, focusing on the history, architecture, and cultural importance of Galway’s waterways.

Led by experienced local historian and tour guide Ian Brophy, these tours will explore Galway’s canal systems, historic mills, bridges, and water-powered infrastructure – much of which still remain intact thanks to Peadar’s work.

A founding member of Galway Civic Trust, he was a passionate advocate for the city’s waterways. In 1967, Peadar formed the Galway Waterways Preservation Society, which successfully campaigned against proposed developments that would have destroyed parts of the Eglinton Canal and the Claddagh Basin.

That work protected Galway’s water-based heritage and Peadar also helped to create an appreciation of its importance. Through his books, lectures and in weekly columns for the Connacht Sentinel and later the Tribune, he shared his vast knowledge of Galway’s history, culture and wildlife, and did so until his death.

On August 23, he will be remembered with a full schedule of events in the Mick Lally Theatre and Hall of the Red Earl on Druid. The theatre will talks, lectures and music, while The Hall of the Red Earl will host an archaeological tour and an open-mic poetry event.

The programme at the Mick Lally will start at 9am, when

Polish-born city resident Marek Sztendel will give a talk, Galway from a Polish Perspective.

At 10am, Ian Brophy of Galway Civic Trust will speak on Galway, Exploring Our Foundations, followed at 11am by Declan O’Shea’s talk on Our Irish Roots: Celts to Monks.

At 12 noon, local historian Ronan Harvey will speak on Encastellated Galway in a wider European context.

The TG4 film, Ag Trasnú An Atlantaigh Dhuibh / Crossing the Black Atlantic will be screened at 1pm. Made by Galway filmmaker Des Kilbane, it tells the true story of how freed American slave turned champion boxer Tom Molineaux ended in a grave in Mervue, and also holds up a mirror to Ireland’s role in the slave trade.

Peadar’s former pupil, his friend and fellow historian William Henry will give a Talk in Memory of Peadar O’Dowd at 2pm.

The Deserted Anglo-Norman Town and Castle at Rindoon, County Roscommon will be explored by Kieran O’Conor at  3pm and that will be followed at 4pm by Galway Through Time: A Topographical Exploration from Paul Walsh.

The story of the archaeological excavations in the nearby Hall of the Red Earl will be recounted at 5pm by Dominic Delaney. Talks will close at 6pm with On Raglan Road: Great Irish Love Songs and the Women Who Inspired Them, by author and poet Gerard Hanberry

The final event, from 7-9.30pm will be a concert, featuring the Cór na dTreabh choir, musician Bernard Naughton and Friends, folk singer Mick Brown and the Galway Ukulele group.

Events across the lane will include an Archaeological Tour of the Hall of the Red Earl, as well as an Open-Mic Poetry session, an informal celebration of local poets, hosted by Skylight 47 Poetry.

Meanwhile, free weekly tours in Peadar’s memory will take place on Wednesdays, starting on August 20, leaving from the Hall of the Red Earl at 2pm. The Civic Trust describes the walks as “our way of continuing Peadar’s mission – to educate, protect and celebrate Galway’s living history”.

The Peadar O’Dowd Memorial Waterways Tours will be given by Ian Brophy and no booking will be required.

■ For more information on the tours or on taking part in the celebration day on August 23 visit: www.galwaycivictrust.ie, or email  info@galwaycivictrust.ie

Pictured: Peadar O’Dowd.