Derryglad Folk and Heritage Museum celebrates 25 years great style

Derryglad Folk and Heritage Museum recently hosted a large crowd for its 25th anniversary celebrations. There was music, song, dance, and storytelling.

The music was provided by Seán and Lucy Nally, Clonown, Ronan Hanrahan, Taughmaconnell, and Nigel Tully, Clontuskret. Internationally known storyteller Vincent Pierce from Knockcroghery had the crowd in peals of laughter. Kevin Cunniffe from Taughmaconnell, a man of many talents, gave demonstrations of Sean-Nós dancing, and Batty O'Brien from Knockcroghery was on his trumpet.

The big attraction on the day was the popular old style country butter making by the Carter family from Co Laois.

The celebration cake was cut by Helen O'Brien, Milltown, and it was another piece of history at the museum as it was her late mother who cut the cake at the opening 25 years ago.

On June 14 1998, the museum was opened by local singing star Brendan Shine, who sent his apologies that due to being on tour he was unable to attend this time.

The anniversary celebrations were also a fundraiser for Mayo-Roscommon Hospice, and founder Charlie Finneran thanked all in attendance on the day for their donations and also all those who contributed who were unable to attend. He also gave a brief history of the museum and the collection over the past 25 years.

The amount collected on the day for Mayo-Roscommon Hospice was an incredible €3,515.