Cultural Controversies Tour

This is a recording of a walking tour through the streets of Galway where eight speakers give an account, at appropriate locations, of incidents or issues related to the arts which were the cause of some controversy in the past. 

SELECT CHAPTERS  above to access individual contributions.

The tour was co-ordinated  by Dr John Cunningham and Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley of the University of Galway History Department in association with Galway City Museum. It was conducted on Culture Night 20 September, 2024 

Produced by Mary Cunningham,

Photo courtesy of Aodh Ó'Coiléain

Music : 'Fine Dining' by Track Tribe
Website: tracktribe.com.
instagram.com/tracktribemusic/?hl=en

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction: John Cunningham
• 1:07 Nudity in Leisureland: Gary McMahon
• 10:38 Murphy's Law - staging controversies: Jonathan Hannon
• 19:50 Walter Macken and the crawthumpers: Mary Cunningham
• 30:23 Representing ourselves, disgracing ourselves again: keeping Irish language theatre lit: Aodh Ó'Coileáin
• 39:22 Opposition by those in authority in the 1920s to the idea of a public library: Pat McMahon
• 48:24 The Galway Film Society, Hail Mary, The University, and the prayer groups: James C Harold
• 1:02:03 George A Birmingham and his 'sheepish finger sucking maid': John Cunningham
• 1:10:16 Galway Cathedral: 'a ghastly monstrosity'?: Brendan O'Mahony