Galway City Council is delighted to have received Heritage Council funding for a Vernacular Heritage Survey of Baile an Dúlaigh / Ballindooley, Galway City. The survey will record a wide range of items including buildings, metalwork, literature, folklore references, and placenames and will be used to prepare a Conservation Management Plan of Fahy’s Farm – a vernacular farm complex in the ownership of Galway City Council.
Members of the public are invited to share photos, stories, maps, drawings or other information about families in the area. Galway City Council and the consultants would be very interested to hear from the community if they have any historic photographs, maps, drawings, stories, or information about that families in the area via Conservation@GalwayCity.ie.
Michael Scott, Architectural Conservation Officer, Galway City Council commented, “Vernacular heritage refers to buildings, structures, and features that are created by ordinary people using local materials and traditional methods, without formal architectural design. It is an intrinsic part of both rural and urban landscapes, reflecting local needs, environmental conditions, and cultural traditions.
Our vernacular heritage is a rich and precious link to the everyday past - this survey will capture its special nature, and will contribute to the understanding, enjoyment and protection of the vernacular heritage of Ballindooley.”
Dr. Jim Higgins, Heritage Officer, Galway City Council said, ““It is hoped that the origins of the development of Ballindooley can be linked to the early archaeology of the crannog, the medieval archaeology of the castle, as well as the post-medieval development of the settlement which may be found to have surprisingly significant early origins”.
The survey will be undertaken by Deirdre McDermott and Áine Doyle, both of whom have a wide experience and understanding of Irish vernacular heritage. The survey will record a wide range of items including buildings, metalwork, literature, folklore references, placenames, the identification of lost heritage and many more items.
The Vernacular Heritage Survey is a joint project of Galway City Council Heritage and Architectural Conservation.
The survey is an action of the Galway City Heritage Plan 2025-2030 and funded by The Heritage Council / An Comhairle Oidhreachta and Galway City Council Architectural Conservation.