AboutAran

18/06/2026

It’s that time of year again.

15/06/2026

Book Launch.
Thursday June 18th 2026

We are looking forward to the launch by our old friend Mary Rose Tobin of her novel, Foundling Girls in the Chapel, from 3pm-5pm at The Clybaun Hotel, Clybaun Road, Knocknacarra, Galway,
H91 F62V

13/06/2026

Lig Sinn i gCathú le Breandán Ó hEithir.(1976)
(Lead us into temptation)

It’s hard to believe that fifty years have passed since this marvellous book was published in 1976.

Brendán gave us a flavour of what student life at UCG and Galway town was like in the late 1940s. And contrary to what some would have us believe, life didn’t just revolve around saying your prayers and singing “Faith of our Fathers”.
It seems the main character had no desire to be either a Saint or a Scholar.

By coincidence we were recently reading the beautifully written biography of Brendán by his good friend, the late Liam Mac Con Iomaire.

We were enjoying Liam’s account of the time Brendán was given money by his mother to travel to Lourdes, when the great Irish literary magazine COMHAR, published a bumper June 2026 edition to mark the launch of Brendán’s much acclaimed novel. (He never made it to Lourdes, falling into “bad company” in London)

Those with a good command of Irish will get a little extra from the original LIG SINN I gCATHÚ but those with little or no Irish can enjoy the English language translation LEAD US INTO TEMPTATION, which appeared two years later in 1978. It has also been adapted and performed as a play

It’s getting difficult to find the Irish version of his book and we are certain that in years to come, copies of the June edition of COMHAR magazine will be equally difficult to find. It’s on sale now in both the shops and online and well worth the €4:50.

https://comhar.ie/leabhair/iris-comhar-meitheamh-2026/

13/06/2026

Happy birthday today to our old friend, classmate and teammate, Eamonn Mulholland.

In July 1969 Eamonn was caddying for the man lying in second place on the final day of the British Open golf tournament.

That man was the late Christy O’Connor (Snr) who would finish eventually in 5th place.

What’s truly remarkable about the whole thing is that Eamonn was just 18 years old at the time.

The four rounds Christy O’Connor had that week 57 years ago, reflect well on Eamonn’s skill as a golf caddy.

This included Christy’s second round course record of 65, which stood for many many years.

11/06/2026

Go hÁlainn.

A wind-swept posie of sea-pinks clinging obstinately to an old sea wall caught my eye, defying the Atlantic winds and spray to dislodge them from their inhospitable refuge, reminded me of the beautiful poem in Irish, ‘Na Blátha Craige’ or ‘the flowers of the cliff-face’, written by Aran Islands poet, Liam Ó Flaithearta. It was of course autobiographical for Liam, describing the stoicism of the Aran islanders, living their precarious lives on three tiny islands at the edge of the Atlantic in Galway bay.

Give it a go, no judgement, just read it aloud. It’s beautiful. English translation provided, though the English words do not convey a whit of the poem’s true beauty.

iA dúirt mé leis na blátha:
“Nach suarach an áit a fuair sibh
le bheith ag déanamh aeir
Teannta suas anseo le bruach na haille,
Gan fúibh ach an chloch ghlas
Agus salachar na n-éan,
áit bhradach, lán le ceo
Agus farraige cháite,
Ní scairteann grian anseo
Ó Luan go Satharn
Le gliondar a chur oraibh”
A dúirt na blatha craige:
“Is cuma linn, a stór,
Táimid faoi dhraíocht
ag ceol na farraige.”

‘I said to the flowers:
“isn’t it a pitiful place ye ended up
to be having fun
and ye trapped on the side of a cliff
nothing below but grey rock
and the filth of the birds,
a dirty, foggy place,
of spraying sea.
The sun doesn’t shine here
From Monday to Saturday
to gladden your hearts”
And they said:
“We don’t care, dear,
We are entranced
by the music of the sea.”

Photo and story; Brian Nolan

05/06/2026

Lá breithe shona duit, a Mhicheál.

Happy Birthday, Mikey.

Today, June 5th, 2026, is the 80th birthday for one of the islands best known personalities, Mikey Pheait Mhaidhcilín Ó hIarnáin (Hernon) of Cill Muirbhigh.

A man who is as well known in Galway town as he is on the islands, Mikey spent many decades travelling the county as a P&T engineer.

Whether in life or on the football field, Mikey has always had a positive attitude and we wish him well on his big day.

04/06/2026

Éinne Conneely R.I.P.

More sad news from America with word of the death of Éinne Conneely.

The son of the late Micheál Conneely (Twenty) of Cill Muirbhigh and Marie Cullinane from Galway, many will have fond memories of Éinne on the island before he and his wife, Meghan McMenimen, left for America.

Codladh Sámh, Éinne.

https://www.joycefuneralhome.com/obituaries/michael-conneely?fbclid=Iwb21leASORkdjbGNrBI5GN2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHjoIlAVKuKxwxHM4O9H07NffwRTXMXpJIgeEmm9yTp-fULBzn4M9jjzTuubF_aem_42RqXfhyMFyrggaGJgnX9Q

View Michael 'Einne' Conneely's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/06/2026

Mná na Trousers.

In a recent post about Miriam O’Neal’s upcoming Rivers on Aran 2026 conference based on the life and work of painter and writer Elizabeth Rivers, we made a passing reference to the “Mná na Trousers” controversy of long ago.

We have since been asked to explain what the term means.

The local priest Tomas Killeen was very critical of women who wore pants and Betty Rivers, who was renting the ‘Man of Aran’ cottage at the time, was a bad influence in his opinion.

We wrote about this many years ago in the course of a post about the recovery and burial of a young R.A.F. airman, Alfred Tizzard by Cill Mhuirbhigh fishermen, in 1941.

The Lonely grave of Alfred Tizzard. Grave of Fl Sergent Alfred Tizzard from Littlehampton, Sussex with the great cliff...

29/05/2026

Only a few weeks to go before the Elizabeth Rivers festival on Árainn next month. This event is being organised by the well known American poet and writer Miriam O’Neal.

Many of our followers will remember the story of Betty River’s battle with the local Priest, Thomas Killeen.
This gave rise to the famous term “ Mná na Trousers”.

Here is the promo for the festival.

Join Miriam, June 16-18, 2026 to celebrate Modernist artist, Elizabeth Joyce Rivers, who lived in Man of Aran Cottage on the island of Inis Mór.
Rivers on Aran June 16-18, 2026

From 1935 to 1943, Modernist artist, Elizabeth Joyce Rivers lived and created art in the Man of Aran Cottage on the island of Inis Mór. Join us for a three-day interdisciplinary celebration of the influence of the Aran Islands on her work and life.

Conference sessions include presentations by Irish Art Historian, Dr. Roisin Kennedy of UniversityCollege Dublin; Rivers Biographer, Miriam O'Neal, on Rivers' time on Aran, her friendships, challenges, and deep feeling for the community; Aran Pilgrimage Guide, Dara Molloy; who will speak on Aran's antiquarian history, which Rivers explored in depth during her years on Inis Mór.

There will also be a screening of Robert Flaherty's, Man of Aran hosted by Aran Craft Shop & Gallery owner, Gar Browne, with a follow-up discussion of the film's place in Aran's and Rivers' history, a visit to Man of Aran Cottage for a performance by Uilleann piper, Ronan Browne, and more.

Conference Coordinator, Miriam O'Neal can be reached at [email protected].
For more information about accommodations at our conference site, Aran Islands Hotel, and a conference promo code, go to Hotel Reservations Rivers on Aran.

TUESDAY, JUNE 16
4:00-5:30 PM: OPENING RECEPTION

5:30--7:30 PM: SCREENING OF MAN OF ARAN , with follow-up discussion about the film's place in Aran's and Rivers' history.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17
10:00 - 11:00 AM: ARAN'S HOLY PLACES, presentation by Pilgrimage Guide, Dara Molloy

11:15 - 12:30 PM: A STRANGER FINDS HOME, with Rivers biographer, Miriam O'Neal

1:30 - 2:50 PM: ARAN, ELIZABETH, & IRISH MODERN ART, with Dr. Roisin Kennedy

4:00 - 6:00 PM: MUSIC & CONVERSATION AT MAN OF ARAN COTTAGE. Uillean piper, Ronan Browne will perform and we'll talk about those days on Aran. Light refreshments will be served.

JOIN US AT JOE WATTY'S PUB THIS EVENING FOR A MUSIC SESSION

THURSDAY, JUNE 18
10:00 - 2:00 PM: GUIDED TOUR OF NA SEACHT D'TEAMPAILL, with Dara Molloy, followed by a visit to Dun Aonghasa, and local shops.

FOR A DETAILED SCHEDULE OF RIVERS ON ARAN 2026 EVENTS CONTACT [email protected]

26/05/2026

Tending to the transatlantic liners calling to Galway Bay in the 20th century.

Our latest blog deals mainly with the arrival 62 years ago in June 1964 of the M.V. Galway Bay.

It had been converted to diesel from steam in Holland and started its journey to Galway on May 27th, 1964.

The trip was interrupted twice by fog in the North Sea and arrived late in Galway to great excitement on Tuesday, June 2nd 1964.

We also cover an early morning trip in Aug 1964 from the once busy Passenger & Cargo port of Ballyvaughan in North Clare. Over 300 passengers had a great day out on Árainn.

Earlier tenders in the 19th and early 20th century also provided a towing service for sailing ships , often travelling as far as the islands before releasing into the wind.

The transatlantic liner business in Galway Bay was severely interrupted during the two world wars and an attempt to resurrect the service in 1958 would eventually be abandoned with the arrival of the jet age.

This is a ten minute read and can be accessed at the following link.

https://www.aboutaran.com/2026/05/liner-tenders-on-galway-bay.html