A restoration project started by young people in Tuam has brought an old water mill back to life.
A corn mill dating from the seventeenth century, Tuam Mill ceased commercial operation in 1964 and fell into disuse.
A group of local teenagers suggested restoring the mill in 1970, and drew up a plan with help from one of their teachers. Michael Flaherty was one of those behind saving the mill and adjacent buildings from demolition. Over a decade on he is pleased with the outcome.
Dr John A Claffey has also been instrumental in the mill restoration. The good condition of the original machinery helped, but water supply was an issue. Once the wheel began to turn again, it drew visitors.
People are more interested in it. They like to see movement.
Jarlath Kenny dealt with the nuts and bolts of the restoration. His job was made easier because the original waterwheel, millstones and machinery were all in good order, but time was the highest cost.
It was really physical rather than financial expense.
Five generations of the Farrell family ran this mill, and as experts in their field, engineered their own solutions to milling problems. Bernard Meyer Jones, who is president of the Galway branch of An Taisce describes how the mill worked.
An 'Anything Goes’ report broadcast on 10 January 1981.
'Anything Goes' was a young people’s programme on RTÉ Television which went out on Saturday mornings. Presented by Aonghus McAnally, Kathy Parke, Dave Heffernan, Mary FitzGerald and Mary Frances Calayco, it was first broadcast on 4 October 1980 and continued for 6 years.
