Dr. Ronnie O'Gorman Collection at the University of Galway Library

In July 2024, a literary collection owned by the late entrepreneur, local historian and supporter of the arts, Ronnie O’Gorman, was donated to University of Galway.

The bequest was finalised by Ronnie O'Gorman, the founder and publisher of the Galway Advertiser, before he died in May 2024. It will reside in the University's Library as part of its Special Collections.  

The carefully curated collection features many rare and significant works of Irish literature, representing his deep appreciation of Irish writing, the history of publishing in the country and his lifelong passion for the collection and promotion of Irish literature and art. 

The works also span three generations of the O’Gorman family and many of the volumes reflect the family’s long interest in the history of Galway, about which Ronnie wrote extensively. 

The collection was presented at a special event at University of Galway Library early in 2024, attended by Ronnie O’Gorman and family, as well as friends and associates.  

It includes a first edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses; one of 250 signed copies of a New York Limited Editions Club first edition Ulysses, with illustrations by the French artist Henri Matisse, signed by both the artist and Joyce; and The Aran Islands, by John Millington Synge, with 12 hand-coloured illustrations by Jack B. Yeats, which was described by the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as "the great prose manifesto of the Irish literary revival". 

As well as more rare and beautiful volumes collected by Ronnie O’Gorman, his father Frank and also his grandfather Philip, who worked as Library Clerk in the University of Galway Library in the late 19^th century, the collection also includes two 19^th Century Walter Osborne paintings - Galway Fowl Market and Galway Fish Market. 

Cataloguing of the collection is now complete and more detail on the collection can be found in blogs written by Teresa Curtin, the University of Galway Library's Cataloguing and Metadata Librarian.

Read more about the Yeats and Joyce aspects of Ronnie's collection below:

Treasures of the O’Gorman Special Collection : William Butler Yeats

Treasures of the O’Gorman Special Collection: James Joyce

             

Ben O’Gorman, son of Ronnie O’Gorman, said: “Our family is delighted that we were able to keep the collection together and for it to be donated to the University - somewhere that really appreciates it. Ronnie took such joy in curating his collection, it was in many ways his life’s work, so to be able to keep it in one place, for the future, for others to enjoy, is a great legacy.” 

President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “The O’Gorman Collection is a tremendous gift to the University community and it is particularly poignant that the collection will reside in our Library where Ronnie O’Gorman’s grandfather Philip worked. Ronnie O’Gorman was a man of huge insight, huge foresight, in establishing the Advertiser and the sense of community that developed for Galway. As we celebrate the donation of such a beautiful gift, I also remember and cherish the day that we had with Ronnie on campus early in 2024, a day that had generosity, community, atmosphere - all of those things that characterised Ronnie O’Gorman.” 

University of Galway Librarian Monica Crump said: “The O’Gorman collection represents the very best of Irish literature and culture. It was started by Philip O’Gorman, a former Library Clerk here in the Library, continued by his son Frank and then his grandson Dr Ronnie O’Gorman. We are grateful to all three generations of the O’Gorman family for their commitment to collecting these wonderful works and looking after them so well in the intervening years. And we are immensely grateful to Ronnie and the O’Gorman family for entrusting us with these volumes. We are committed to continuing the good work of the O’Gormans, of preserving them, keeping them safe, and making them available for students and researchers into the future.” 

Catriona Cannon, Head of Heritage Collections and Digitisation at University of Galway Library, said: “Ronnie was a long-time friend of the Library and tireless champion of art and culture in the West of Ireland. He was always a welcome sight in our reading room, his combination of knowledge, passion and generosity of spirit was utterly unique and a joy to encounter. This legacy will ensure the continuity of Ronnie’s lifelong commitment to preserving and promoting Ireland’s literary culture - it is a gift to the city he loved and it will inspire and educate students and staff of the University and our researchers for generations to come.”

Remembering Ronnie O'Gorman, a tribute from University Of Galway Library staff

News coverage:

O'Gorman Art and Literature Collection Donated to University of Galway.

First Edition Ulysses signed by Joyce and Matisse among O'Gorman Collection Donated to University of Galway.

Treasures of the O’Gorman Special Collection 

Blog Series - Volume 2

James Joyce

A literary collection owned by the late entrepreneur, local historian and supporter of the arts, Ronnie O’Gorman, was recently donated to the University of Galway. This collection, spanning three generations of the O’Gorman family, includes countless items of literary and historic value. 

To read more about this donation, please see: O’Gorman Collection donated to the University of Galway. 

This blog post will highlight some of the rare volumes of James Joyce within the O’Gorman Special Collection. 

 

Ulysses 

First edition 

This is number 815 of 1000 copies which were printed on handmade paper. The volume is stored in a collector's box with customised book spine, reading: Ulysses Joyce, accompanied by gold decorated stamps. This volume features the original iconic blue paper wrapper. 

Published in 1922. 

First edition Ulysses

Ulysses 

Special edition with illustrations by Henri Matisse. 

A rare, illustrated edition of Ulysses featuring artwork by Henri Matisse. This limited edition features the signatures of both Joyce and Matisse. The volume is held in a customised and gilt decorated slipcase.  

Artwork done by Matisse for this edition features characters and events from Homer’s Odyssey instead of the events of the novel Ulysses.  

Published in 1935. 

Ulysses special edition with illustrations by Henri Matisse. 

Finnegans Wake 

Signed edition 

Limited production of copies with 125 copies sold in Great Britain and 300 copies sold in New York by The Viking Press.  

This edition includes a pamphlet published in 1945 of corrections and misprints for Finnegan's wake.  

Published in 1939. 

Dubliners

Dubliners 

First American edition 

This copy is one of only 504 copies issued from English sheets. It is housed in collector's solander box. This volume features blue-green cloth boards, lettered in green. This item is in very good condition. 

Published in 1916. 

Dubliners

 

A portrait of the Artist as a Young Man 

First edition 

This volume is in excellent condition and features the original dark blue cloth boards with its title blind embossed on the front cover, and gilt stamping on the spine. 

Published in 1916. 

 

Collected poems 

First edition 

Housed in a custom gilt box, this volume of collected poetry is also autographed by Joyce. 

This is a limited edition which is printed on Japanese vellum. It features ornate and gilt decorated binding. This publication is noted as copy 39 of 50 volumes. 

First published in 1936. 

Collected poems

Chamber Music 

Collection of poetry. 

Slim volume in original green cloth with gilt lettering on boards and spine. This is the third variant with endpapers of thin woven paper. A handwritten note within highlights that the contents of this volume are Joyce's first publication. 

Published in 1907. 

Collected poems

Pomes Pennyeach 

Collection of thirteen poems by Joyce. 

Faber edition published in 1933 featuring dark-green linen grained boards.

Pamphlet published in 1945 of corrections and misprints for Finnegan's wake.

Ábhair spéise ó Bhailiúchán Speisialta O’Gorman

Sraith Blaganna – Uimh. 2

James Joyce

Bronnadh bailiúchán liteartha Ronnie O’Gorman, fear gnó, staraí áitiúil agus pátrún na n-ealaíon a cailleadh le gairid, ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe le déanaí. Trí ghlúin de mhuintir O’Gorman a thiomsaigh an bailiúchán seo, agus an t-iliomad míreanna ann a bhfuil luach liteartha agus stairiúil ag baint leo. 

Is féidir tuilleadh a léamh faoin mbronntanas seo ag: Bailiúchán O’Gorman bronnta ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. 

Tarraingeofar aird sa bhlag seo ar roinnt de na leabhair uathúla le James Joyce atá i mBailiúchán Speisialta O'Gorman. 

Ulysses

Céad Eagrán

Uimhir 815 as 1000 cóip a cuireadh i gcló ar pháipéar lámhdéanta atá anseo. Tá an leabhar seo, a bhfuil droim leabhair sainoiriúnaithe aige, á stóráil i mbosca bailitheora agus Ulysses Joyce scríofa air in éineacht le stampaí atá maisithe le hór. Tá an cumhdach páipéir ghoirm so-aitheanta bunaidh ar an imleabhar seo.

Foilsithe in 1922.

Ulysses, céad eagrán.

Ulysses

Eagrán speisialta le léaráidí le Henri Matisse.

Eagrán uathúil de Ulysses ina bhfuil líníochtaí le Henri Matisse. Tá síniú Joyce agus Matisse araon ar an eagrán teoranta seo. Coinnítear an t-imleabhar i gcáschumhdach óraithe sainoiriúnaithe.

Is iad na carachtair agus eachtraí ó Odaisé Hóiméir atá i gceist le healaíon Matisse don eagrán seo, seachas imeachtaí an úrscéil Ulysses féin.

Foilsithe in 1935.

Ulysses, eagrán speisialta le léaráidí le Henri Matisse.

Finnegans Wake

Eagrán sínithe

Níor tháirg The Viking Press ach líon teoranta cóipeanna den eagrán seo, agus díoladh 125 cóip sa Bhreatain Mhór agus 300 cóip i Nua-Eabhrac.

San áireamh leis an eagrán seo tá paimfléad a foilsíodh in 1945 ina liostaítear ceartúcháin agus earráidí cló in Finnegan's Wake.

Foilsithe in 1939.

Dubliners

Dubliners

Céad Eagrán Mheiriceá

Ceann amháin de 504 cóip a eisíodh ó bhileoga Sasanacha an chóip seo. Tá sé á choinneáil i mbosca Solander an bhailitheora. Clúdaigh éadaigh gormuaine atá ag an imleabhar seo agus litreoireacht uaine orthu. Tá riocht an-mhaith ar an gcóip seo.

Foilsithe in 1916.

Dubliners

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Céad Eagrán

Tá riocht an-mhaith ar an imleabhar seo agus tá na clúdaigh éadaigh dhúghorma bhunaidh air. Cabhradh dall atá sa teideal ar an gclúdach agus stampáil óraithe ar an droim.

Foilsithe in 1916.

Collected Poems

Collected poems

Céad Eagrán

Tá an t-imleabhar filíochta seo i mbosca óraithe sainoiriúnaithe agus é sínithe ag Joyce.

Eagrán teoranta é seo agus é curtha i gcló ar veilleam Seapánach. Tá ceangal ornáideach an leabhair maisithe le hórúchán. Tá an foilseachán seo sonraithe mar chóip 39 as 50 imleabhar.

Foilsithe den chéad uair in 1936.

Collected Poems

Chamber Music

Bailiúchán filíochta

Imleabhar tánaí le héadach uaine ar na clúdaigh agus an droim, agus litreoireacht óraithe. Seo an tríú leagan agus bileoga ceangail déanta as páipéar tánaí fite air. Tugtar le fios ar nóta lámhscríofa laistigh den leabhar gurb iad dánta an imleabhair seo an chéad fhoilseachán de chuid Joyce.

Foilsithe in 1907.

Pomes Pennyeach

Cnuasach de thrí dhán déag le Joyce.

Eagrán a d'fhoilsigh Faber in 1933 a bhfuil clúdaigh shnáitheacha déanta as línéadach dú-uaine air.

Paimfléad a foilsíodh in 1945 ina liostaítear ceartúcháin agus earráidí cló in Finnegan's Wake.