History of NUI Galway, the Science Faculty and associated scientists.

William McAlla (1814-1849)

McAlla was the Roundstone schoolmaster in the 1830s.  He was also an excellent, self-taught naturalist who knew Connemara well and made several important finds, notably the rare Irish heath ( Erica erigena) and MacKay’s heath.  McAlla, who was also the first person to realise the true nature of coral seaweed, corresponded with naturalists in Ireland and Britain.  In 1845 he published "Algae Hibernicae", a large two-volume exsicatta containing dried samples of Irish Seaweeds.

McAlla died of cholera in 1849 and was buried in Roundstone.  A seaweed known as Cladophora macalla is named after him. 

Source:

Back

• Disclaimer
• Privacy
• Copyright
• Accessibility