The Old Tuam Society

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Local history group for Tuam and surrounding district

30/10/2026

A wonderful turnout for our lecture with Professor Brian Cleary!

Brian shared a fascinating and very personal story about his hearing difficulties, which ultimately led to an incredible piece of detective work and the discovery of a previously unknown Bram Stoker short story, hidden for over 130 years.

As reported on RTÉ News: Long-lost Bram Stoker story discovered in Dublin.

We had the pleasure of hosting Brian for a lecture some years ago, and it is great to see him continuing to pursue his passion for history. What a remarkable discovery – and a wonderfully spooky tale just in time for Halloween!

A special word of thanks to our librarian, Margaret Garvey, and to Roger O’Waters and Mary Burke for their help and support.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for such an enjoyable evening.

30/10/2026

Just a gentle reminder that tonight’s lecture by Tuam native Professor Brian Cleary, takes place in Tuam Library at 7pm.

Everyone is very welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!

20/10/2026

A lovely connection across four generations of women in one family. Hannah Clarke with her mother, Anne Clarke, and grandmother, Margaret Moloney of Tuam, alongside the University of Galway student register bearing the signature of her great-grandmother, Mary C. Whyte, also the first woman Tuam Town Clerk.

https://www.connachttribune.ie/news/tuam/tuam-granny-moved-to-tears-as-granddaughter-continues-90-year-university-tradition-9297506

18/10/2026

GLIMPSE FROM THE PAST
PARNELL AND THE IRISHTOWN MEETING

This poster printed in The Tuam Herald in 1891 recalls the famous meeting in Irishtown, an important moment in the campaign for tenants’ rights. Charles Stewart Parnell supported farmers fighting against high rents and unfair treatment.

A lovely piece of Tuam history, linking the pages of The Tuam Herald with a movement that helped shape the country’s social and political history.

Held in the National Museum of Ireland.

13/10/2026

Tuam Man’s Remarkable Bram Stoker Discovery

Professor Brian Cleary, originally from the Fairgreen, Tuam, has made headlines worldwide with his discovery of a long-lost story by Bram Stoker, author of Dracula. His love of Stoker’s writing and his own passion for literature led him to this remarkable find in the National Library of Ireland.

Join us in Tuam Library on 30 October at 7pm for a fascinating lecture as Brian shares the story behind his remarkable discovery.

07/10/2026

Continuing our Tuam Families in 1926
The Lydon family of Ballygaddy Road were bakers for generations, and Lydon’s Bakery became a familiar part of everyday life in Tuam. Their story offers another glimpse into the families and businesses that helped shape the town.

Lydons Bakery had a favourite presence on Ballygaddy Road for over 80 years. Spanning three generations of Bakers, Austin, his son Leo and his grandson Ted. Austin was a native of Galway city growing up on Bowling Green. Austin and his older brother Thomas became Bakers where the Lydon name would become synonymous with the Bakery trade for over a century. Thomas set up a Bakery on Prospect Hill while Austin moved to Tuam around 1903 to work with Hostys on the Square. Austins nephew Thomas junior set up on Shop Street in Galway City which later became known as Lydon House.
After moving to Tuam the family settled on Ballygaddy road where Austins wife Nora (nee Shea) had a cousin Michael Shea living. Austin later worked for Clorans after Michael Tierney their van driver approached him about a vacancy. His son Leo joined him in Clorans as an apprentice after he finished school.
Family lore suggests that it was Leo who initiated the move to set up their own bakery. After completing his apprenticeship he became involved in a dispute with his employer over wages. So he finished his employment with Clorans and began baking bread from home and selling to the local shops delivering it on his bicycle. Eventually a Bake house was built at the back of the house on Ballygaddy Road in the early 1920’s. The family also ran a grocery shop at the front of the house.
In 1951 Leo purchased McHughs Hotel on Shop Street which was run by his daughter Mary until she got married. Later his other daughter Nora and her husband Vinny Ryan ran the hotel until it was sold in the early 1970s. There was also a shop at the front of the building facing Shop Street. The building is now occupied by Eric Gleeson Solicitors.
Ted entered the business after he finished school learning the trade from his father. In 1957 Ted married Doreen (Do Do) King. Doreen was a skilled Confectioner who along with Ted became the mainstay of the business until they both retired. The Bakery continued operating until 2005 when it finally closed.

A special thanks to Peter Ryan for information and photographs. A fuller article on the Lydon family by Peter was published in last year's edition of JOTS22.

29/09/2026

‘From Humble Roots to Irish Icon’ is a short film celebrating the story, craftsmanship and enduring heritage of the traditional three-legged Tuam Chair.

Produced in collaboration with the Old Tuam Society and Friends of Tuam Heritage, the film honours the contributions of Al O’Dea and Tom Dowd of Corrib Crafts, who helped revive the Tuam Chair.
For generations, the Tuam Chair has been part of the town's story and its people. The film traces its journey from humble beginnings to its revival in the 1960s, showing how this much-loved piece of local craftsmanship has endured.

Today, John and Gabriel Blake proudly carry on that tradition, carefully handcrafting chairs in their Corrib Crafts workshop at the Old School House (Mall School) in Tuam.

The Old Tuam Society and Friends of Tuam Heritage sincerely thank Teddy Reynolds, Henry Geraghty (both formerly of Bishop Street), Francis Dowd of Kilconly, Anne Burke of Ballymote Rd, and Jan Frohburg, University of Limerick, who took part in the film.

This project was funded by Galway County Council and the Tuam Lions Club. It was filmed and produced by James Ryan of StationHouse Media.

02/09/2026

Following the great response to our “A Window to Tuam’s Past” heritage display, we’re continuing to share stories and memories of some of the families who have been part of Tuam’s history.

The Cahills of Bishop and Vicar streets.

When brothers Patrick and Michael W. (MW) Cahill acquired the Mitre Buildings on Bishop Street in 1900, they were laying the foundations of Cahill family businesses that would operate across the centre of Tuam town up to 1979. They were subsequently joined in business by their brother Thomas J., while another brother, AD, headed Cahill & Co. in Ballinasloe.

The Cahills, who came from a farming family near Ahascragh, are said to have “made their fortune travelling the countryside selling tea to rural households” in the 1890s. These profits enabled them to buy a farm in Caltra and set up businesses in Tuam and Ballinasloe. The brothers’ line of business was extensive, including bar and grocery, butchering, auctioneering, hardware, agricultural supplies, and egg, turkey and wool exports. “Cahill’s teas are the best,” their advertising slogan went.

Still in operation, the GBC in Galway, a café and bakery then owned by MW, was another part of the business. In addition to commercial activity, the Cahills, especially MW, were also involved in Tuam’s social and political life. MW was a member of Tuam Town Commissioners for 35 years, including 15 as its chairman. In 1954, he donated a chain of office to the Commissioners, which is now on display in Tuam Library.

He was also one of the first guarantors of the Tuam Stadium project, was chair of the Stadium Development Association and donated the MW Cahill Cup for intercounty matches in aid of stadium funds. He was also chair of the Tuam Public Utility Society, a co-operative house building and ownership scheme that erected 245 houses in Tuam by 1946.

As his obituary stated, MW’s “interest in public affairs was on a comparable scale to his business interests, and there was scarcely any side of community life in which he did not take a leading part.”

A special thanks to Damian Mac Con Uladh for providing information and photographs from the family archives. A fuller article on the Cahill family, written by Damian, was published in JOTS20.

28/08/2026

We’re continuing our series about the people and families who have shaped our town over the years. Today, we’re focusing on one of those families.

It’s a fishy business: the Ralph family!

The Ralph family has been selling fish in Tuam for at least six generations. Over the years, many members of the family were involved in the fish trade, making the Ralph name a familiar one to generations of people in the town.

Since several were named Michael, they used nicknames like Old Mike, Big Miko, and Young Miko to tell them apart. The family didn’t always live on Sun Street, where Kenny Ralph would later open Sun Street Studios. (An article about Kenny and Sun Street Studios was published in last year's JOTS22).

In the 1911 Census, Old Mike Ralph was living in Tierboy with his wife, Margaret (née Shaughnessy), and their three children: Michael, Bridget, and Patrick. Michael, the oldest, later became known as Big Miko (pictured in the poster).

The 1926 census shows the family living in Killaloonty, close to Cosgrove’s garage on the Galway Road, and by then they had eight children. Later, they moved to Sun Street, where the Ralph family stayed for many years. Some family members still live there today.

In the 1950s, like many young people at the time, young Miko went to England. He returned to Tuam in the 1960s with his wife, Patricia (Pat), and joined his father in the family business. People remember him driving his fish van when there weren’t many vehicles around, and for his friendly and generous nature.

He travelled to Dublin fish market to buy supplies and brought back fish such as herring, whiting, plaice, and haddock. He also helped local people emigrating to England by giving them a lift to Dublin port to begin their journey.

Friday was always fish day, and for generations, people came to the Ralph stall on the square to buy their fish. The stall became more than just a place to shop. It was where people met friends, chatted with neighbours, and shared the latest news.

Young Miko was also very generous to those who were struggling. Sometimes, he gave fish to families who couldn’t afford to buy it.

The Ralph family tradition carried on through the generations: Old Mike, Big Miko, Young Miko, Miko’s sons Kenny and Paul, who broke the mould with their name changes and his grandsons (Kenny's sons) Micheál and Conor, (Paul's sons) Jamie and Leigh.

When Miko passed away in September 2011, Kevin O’Dwyer remembered him not only as a successful fishmonger but also as one of Tuam’s great characters. His obituary described him as integral to the town’s business and social life for over sixty years
He was also known as a great pal of the Master football legend ‘Sean Purcell’ and ‘Was I Rielly.’ But that’s another story!

Special thanks to Kevin O’Dwyer for the information supplied and the Ralph family for the photos.

21/08/2026

Our heritage window on Shop Street, Tuam, celebrates the family businesses that have played an important part in shaping the town’s history and community.

The Leufer Family – Jewellers of Tuam

Joseph Leufer, a skilled watchmaker originally from the Black Forest region of Germany, established his watchmaking and jewellery business on Bishop Street, Tuam, in 1878. The Leufer family have remained associated with the premises ever since.

The 1911 Census gives us a fascinating glimpse into the family. Joseph, then aged 55, was recorded as a watchmaker, living at No. 5 Bishop Street with his wife Bridget and their children Josephine, Aron and Bertha. Joseph was recorded as having been born in Germany, while his children were born in Tuam.

The family’s watchmaking skills and craftsmanship were passed from one generation to the next. Aron Leufer became an important member of the Tuam community and supported local activities, including the Tuam Swimming Club, for which he presented the Leufer Trophy.

By 1926, the Leufer name was firmly established in Tuam’s commercial life. The original Bishop Street premises remained an important landmark, and the business continued to serve generations of local families.

In 1971, Joseph’s grandson Joe opened a second jewellery shop in The Square, Tuam, expanding the family business while maintaining its connection with Bishop Street.

Today, the business continues as a fourth-generation family business, with the fifth generation now involved, carrying forward a tradition of watchmaking, jewellery and craftsmanship that began in Tuam almost 150 years ago.

Photograph of the Leufer family, courtesy of the Leufer family archive.

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http://oldtuamsociety.blogspot.com/

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