Dr Dympna Waldron Interview Re Cuisle Beatha 2013

Galway Bay Fm Princeton Radio Interview

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A group from one of America's oldest universities arrived in Galway on June 2ndhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2ME0PMMSlqkfkhDVXBUT0lOcDhQOGMwa201V0ZWdzcyY29faWdtajAzZTZMNkdnN3pZemc&authuser=1 to celebrate the link between Galway and Pittsburgh. The delegation from St Francis University are in Galway to trace the footsteps of six friars who departed Connemara in the 1800s on a brave journey to establish what is now regarded as one of the most prestigious universities stateside.

The group, led by Fr Malachi Van Tassell, President of St Francis University in Pittsburgh travelled to Ireland in honour of the university's six founding friars who departed Galway in the 1800s. 
The visit to Galway is in honour of those six friars who left their homeland to spread the Franciscan message in the New World and this trip will honour the Franciscan heritage. Each year, during Founders Day, the university honours the six brothers and this trip will bring a new dimension to remembering the hard-working and inspirational friars. During the group's visit to Galway, the itinerary of which was organised by Go West, they are learning first hand about the brothers' Irish roots, worshipping where they worshipped and walking where they walked. 

The delegates will be hosted by Go West, a conference, event and destination management company based in Furbo, Co. Galway and headed up by Kerry O'Sullivan and Kathleen McDonagh. As part of the nationwide trip, the group will also visit the Book of Kells, Glendalough, Newgrange and the North Coast. 
The group arrived in Mayo on Tuesday 2 June where they visited Knock Shrine and attended mass celebrated by the Most Reverend Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam. They met with Br. James Mungoven from Clifden who gave a talk on the history of the Franciscan Monastery that was established in Roundstone in 1835. Br. Mungoven is a significant expert on the link between Roundstone and Pittsburgh and showed the delegates the remnants of the former Monastery in Roundstone where the six friars were based – today there remains a bell tower in its place.  On Wednesday, Fr Malachi Van Tassell, President of St Francis University celebrated Mass in Roundstone the home of the six friars.  Later Fr Malachi met Professor Brian Hughes Dean of International Affairs, NUI Galway to discuss possible relationships and collaborations between the two Universities.  The group also travelled to the Aran Island where they celebrate Mass in the local parish Church.   They enjoyed a cruise on the Corrib Princess and attended a performance of Trad on The Prom in Salthill.  On Friday morning, the Galway Franciscan Brothers welcomed the group to The Abbey on Francis Street where they celebrated mass together. This was a significant event in marking the links between Ireland and America.

“The itinerary is one that honours the six friars from Galway who departed Ireland” according to Kathleen McDonagh of Go West. "This is a hugely significant visit for the delegation and one that is spiritual but very fitting to mark the achievements of the brothers that left Galway. It will also be an emotional experience for those visiting Galway."

This is one of just a number of scheduled groups that Kerry O'Sullivan and Kathleen McDonagh will bring to Galway in the next few months. In mid-May, Go West hosted a group from the prestigious Princeton University in America and as part of the delegation's visit, they met with Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway. Go West specialises in conference, event and destination management and prides itself on bringing tourists to Galway and the West over the past 20 years.
For more information, contact Kerry O'Sullivan on 087 2666169 / kerry@gowest.ie or Kathleen McDonagh on  087 225 5315 or kathleen@gowest.ie
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