Come and visit us
We are delighted to welcome visitors once again to our cottage museum where we have a selection of antique household items which were once part and parcel of rural houses from our locality in bygone years.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 10am-1pm.
Admission charges: Adults €5
Family €12
Senior Citizens and Students €4
If you wish to book a group visit during these hours please contact us with your details.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 10am-1pm.
Admission charges: Adults €5
Family €12
Senior Citizens and Students €4
If you wish to book a group visit during these hours please contact us with your details.
Lackagh Museum Lotto
Please support the upkeep of our cottage museum and heritage centre by participating in our weekly lotto draw which takes place every Wednesday evening at the museum. Our lotto draw currently has a Jackpot of €6,350.
Ár Scéalta Ghorta – OUR FAMINE STORIES
Lackagh Museum and Community Development Association participated in a bilingual exhibition at the Irish Workhouse Centre, Portumna on 10th May, 2026 as part of a week-long series of events during the National Famine Commemoration 2026.
The exhibition presented famine histories from across County Galway, alongside stories of emigration and settlement among over 20 Galway communities and in Minnesota. Drawing on community research, archival sources and visual interpretation, it highlighted lived experiences from urban, rural and coastal areas of the county.
Our exhibition focused on the suspension of the Turloughmore Famine Relief scheme in 1847 which plunged the area into destitution and despair overnight.
The British government introduced a number of famine relief measures including public work schemes between 1845 and 1847 which allowed the able-bodied to earn income for food. The establishment of the local Turloughmore Drainage Scheme was therefore seen as a lifeline for our starving parishioners.
This incredible feat of engineering eventually saw the course of the River Clare altered into a canalised course from Corofin through the parish of Lackagh with blasting and cutting of the limestone base, in places to a depth of forty feet.
However, in October 1847, with hunger rife, the Board of Works suspended the scheme.
”.. It is much to be deplored that at such a season as this, when destitution is staring at us, the Board should either from want of funds or the non-compliance of some formalities, be necessitated to discontinue them, the consequence of which is the deprivation of nearly two thousand labourers and their helpless families, of the means of existence...” -Tuam Herald, 15th October, 1847
Lackagh-born poet, Edward Coppinger wrote the following lines in his poem River Clare – The River of My Youth:
Between Cahernahoon and that famous Lackagh tip head,
The starving hands that cut through rock became the famine dead.
At that time of infamy and days that were so cruel,
Low was the pay at sixpence a day and a bowl of gruel.
The exhibition was officially opened by Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway and much praise is due to Ms. Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway Co Co for organising this event and the other events throughout the week.
The exhibition presented famine histories from across County Galway, alongside stories of emigration and settlement among over 20 Galway communities and in Minnesota. Drawing on community research, archival sources and visual interpretation, it highlighted lived experiences from urban, rural and coastal areas of the county.
Our exhibition focused on the suspension of the Turloughmore Famine Relief scheme in 1847 which plunged the area into destitution and despair overnight.
The British government introduced a number of famine relief measures including public work schemes between 1845 and 1847 which allowed the able-bodied to earn income for food. The establishment of the local Turloughmore Drainage Scheme was therefore seen as a lifeline for our starving parishioners.
This incredible feat of engineering eventually saw the course of the River Clare altered into a canalised course from Corofin through the parish of Lackagh with blasting and cutting of the limestone base, in places to a depth of forty feet.
However, in October 1847, with hunger rife, the Board of Works suspended the scheme.
”.. It is much to be deplored that at such a season as this, when destitution is staring at us, the Board should either from want of funds or the non-compliance of some formalities, be necessitated to discontinue them, the consequence of which is the deprivation of nearly two thousand labourers and their helpless families, of the means of existence...” -Tuam Herald, 15th October, 1847
Lackagh-born poet, Edward Coppinger wrote the following lines in his poem River Clare – The River of My Youth:
Between Cahernahoon and that famous Lackagh tip head,
The starving hands that cut through rock became the famine dead.
At that time of infamy and days that were so cruel,
Low was the pay at sixpence a day and a bowl of gruel.
The exhibition was officially opened by Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway and much praise is due to Ms. Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway Co Co for organising this event and the other events throughout the week.
Lackagh Musesem committee members Michael Hurley, Gerry McDonagh and Breda Finn atttending the famime commemmoration event at the Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna,
GRETB funding for Lackagh Museum
Lackagh Museum and Community Development Association wish to express our gratitude to GRETB for funding under the REACH programme to provide a short series of gardening workshops for our senior citizens in our new greenhouse at the rear of the Parish Centre.
The funding also covers the purchase of tools and equipment for the greenhouse which was financed under Galway County Council’s Climate Action Fund.
The workshops will take place towards the end of the summer and will focus on the therapeutic benefits of a greenhouse, accessibility and community engagement.
Please email [email protected] for more information or contact Breda at the museum
The funding also covers the purchase of tools and equipment for the greenhouse which was financed under Galway County Council’s Climate Action Fund.
The workshops will take place towards the end of the summer and will focus on the therapeutic benefits of a greenhouse, accessibility and community engagement.
Please email [email protected] for more information or contact Breda at the museum
LEADER funding for Lackagh Museum redevelopment
Galway Rural Development (GRD) has awarded Lackagh Museum and Community Development Association €150,000 under the LEADER Programme towards the first-phase upgrade of our heritage centre.
The funding will cover the renovation of the existing vintage machinery display area and reception building along with the installation of a Battle of Knockdoe interpretative display.
Work on the project is expected to get underway in the coming months with phase two of the redevelopment planned for 2027/28.
The museum committee wish to express our gratitude once again to the board and staff of GRD for their support. Previous LEADER funding enabled us to provide a modern community centre for our parishioners, an area-based community development plan and the rethatching of the cottage museum.
This latest funding will help us to provide a modern space to showcase our wealth of local heritage to our community and visitors to the area.
The funding will cover the renovation of the existing vintage machinery display area and reception building along with the installation of a Battle of Knockdoe interpretative display.
Work on the project is expected to get underway in the coming months with phase two of the redevelopment planned for 2027/28.
The museum committee wish to express our gratitude once again to the board and staff of GRD for their support. Previous LEADER funding enabled us to provide a modern community centre for our parishioners, an area-based community development plan and the rethatching of the cottage museum.
This latest funding will help us to provide a modern space to showcase our wealth of local heritage to our community and visitors to the area.
Culture Night
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Why not join us for our free Culture Night event on the 19th September in Lackagh Parish Centre, H65EK52, for a modern Celtic harp recital by Úna Ní Fhlannagáin.The event commences at 8pm and is free of charge.
Úna is a Co. Galway based harpist and singer, and launched her wonderful new album earlier this year simply called tús. The album contains 14 of her own compositions on a brand new type of harp - a hybrid of the ancient Irish harp and the modern Irish harp in nod to its ancient Gaelic roots! 
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Museum Exhibition funding
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Lackagh Museum are delighted to have been awarded funding under the Regional Museum Exhibition Scheme 2025 as administered by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.
The funding is enabling us to install new interpretation panels and object display labels in our existing horse drawn farm machinery and farm implements space. The interpretation upgrade will help our association achieve our long-term goal of developing a modern-day heritage centre for visitors and parishioners alike to showcase life in our rural parish in times past. The exhibition will enhance sustainable cultural tourism countrywide, as it will match the already positive experience of the culturally curious visitor to our adjacent thatched cottage of social history. This specific interpretation of our local agricultural heritage will also give new residents a greater knowledge and appreciation of our rural identity as it focuses on the everyday farming tasks that once sustained our parish economy. The exhibition is scheduled to open to the public later this month. |
The committee of Lackagh Museum and Community Development Association is delighted to announce our latest publication.
The book, which is once again written by committee member Michael J. Hurley, is titled ‘Meldons of Coolarne’ and tells the story of James Dillon Meldon, a successful Dublin solicitor who purchased over 2,000 acres of farmland in the parish of Lackagh from The Encumbered Estates Commission in the years following The Great Hunger.
The lands included the townlands of Carheenlea, Canteeny, Lackaghmore and Cahertymore. James Meldon also purchased lands from The Encumbered Estates Commission at Belmont (Milltown) and at Oranmore, the latter including the extant Oranmore Castle.
James built ‘Coolarne’ as a ‘hunting lodge’ in Carheenlea in 1865 and was succeeded by his youngest son Joseph (known as Josie) who ran the estates from around 1880. Josie and his wife Helen (née Pennefather) died childless so the remains of the estate (following the sale of holdings to the tenantry) were sold in 1927 to an order of nuns, the Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul.
The order subsequently opened a domestic economy school, a secondary school, and the extant Coolarne National School. The Sacred Heart Missionary
The book, which is once again written by committee member Michael J. Hurley, is titled ‘Meldons of Coolarne’ and tells the story of James Dillon Meldon, a successful Dublin solicitor who purchased over 2,000 acres of farmland in the parish of Lackagh from The Encumbered Estates Commission in the years following The Great Hunger.
The lands included the townlands of Carheenlea, Canteeny, Lackaghmore and Cahertymore. James Meldon also purchased lands from The Encumbered Estates Commission at Belmont (Milltown) and at Oranmore, the latter including the extant Oranmore Castle.
James built ‘Coolarne’ as a ‘hunting lodge’ in Carheenlea in 1865 and was succeeded by his youngest son Joseph (known as Josie) who ran the estates from around 1880. Josie and his wife Helen (née Pennefather) died childless so the remains of the estate (following the sale of holdings to the tenantry) were sold in 1927 to an order of nuns, the Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul.
The order subsequently opened a domestic economy school, a secondary school, and the extant Coolarne National School. The Sacred Heart Missionary