Nostalgia
Mayo's Transatlantic Connectivity Recognised by American Professors.
By Michael Larkin
9, Jul 2018 - 09:29

Two leading academics in the field of Irish American history recently made a special visit to Co. Mayo, to acknowledge the extraordinary contribution made by Thomas Larkin in the early 1900's, to the development of the telephone network in the American Mid - West.

Dr. Matthew O'Brien, Pittsburgh, Prof. of History at Steubenville University and Dr. Timothy McMahon, President of the American Conference for Irish Studies (A.C.I.S.), were both accorded a Civic Welcome by members of Castlebar Municipal District Council.

Mr. Michael Gill, Acting Head of the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, welcomed both academics to the Mayo Campus, where a series of talks were delivered relating to Irish migration to the USA., Pittsburgh in the 1900's, and Thomas Larkin's legacy as a Telephone Pioneer of America.
They also visited some of Co. Mayo's iconic landmarks, including the Foxford Woollen mills, Michael Davitt Museum Straide, Martin Sheridan sculpture Bohola, Ballintubber Abbey, and a very special visit to the ancestral homestead of Thomas Larkin in Derrew, Ballyheane.

Following the invention of the telephone by Alexander G. Bell in 1876, there was much scepticism and doubt regarding its practical everyday use. Even the President of the United States at the time, Rutherford B. Hayes stated "That's an amazing invention Mr. Bell, but who would ever want to use it?" Despite such scepticism, Alexander G. Bell, Thomas Larkin, and many other Bell Telephone Company Pioneers, ensured that the telephone would revolutionise communication and establish connectivity at a pace unimaginable up to this time.

Pictured in Lough Lannagh village at the Civic Welcome ceremony, front, left to right; Ms. Helena McArdle, Prof. Matthew O'Brien, Cllr. Martin McLoughlin, outgoing Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District, Prof. Timothy McMahon, Michael Larkin, grand nephew of Thomas Larkin and Ms . Alice Rowley, Chairperson of Killawalla Community Council. Back. Pat Staunton, Ms. Caitriona Doyle, Cllr. Al McDonnell, John McHale, Acting Head of Castlebar Municipal District, Ms. Lisa Chambers T.D., Opposition Spokesperson on Brexit, Cllrs. Frank Durcan, Michael Kilcoyne, incoming Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District, Blackie Gavin, Cathaoirleach of Mayo Co. Council, Cllrs. Henry Kenny and Joe McHale, Neil Sheridan, Communications and Diaspora A.O., Mayo Co. Council and Micheàl Larkin. Photo: Michael Donnelly.

Pictured in Lough Lannagh village at the Civic Welcome ceremony, front, left to right; Ms. Helena McArdle, Prof. Matthew O'Brien, Cllr. Martin McLoughlin, outgoing Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District, Prof. Timothy McMahon, Michael Larkin, grand nephew of Thomas Larkin and Ms . Alice Rowley, Chairperson of Killawalla Community Council.

Back. Pat Staunton, Ms. Caitriona Doyle, Cllr. Al McDonnell, John McHale, Acting Head of Castlebar Municipal District, Ms. Lisa Chambers T.D., Opposition Spokesperson on Brexit, Cllrs. Frank Durcan, Michael Kilcoyne, incoming Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District, Blackie Gavin, Cathaoirleach of Mayo Co. Council, Cllrs. Henry Kenny and Joe McHale, Neil Sheridan, Communications and Diaspora A.O., Mayo Co. Council and Micheàl Larkin.