Author: balhistsoooc17

Looking back on a great year and forward to 2020

At the launch our Sack of Balbriggan Commemorative Calendar the Committee of Balbriggan & District Historical Society had an opportunity to look back at another busy and successful year and forward to 2020.
Committee 2020
Brian Howley took over as Chairperson from Anne Collins for what will be a very busy year for the Society as we plan for the important commemoration of the Sack of Balbriggan by the Black and Tans in 1920. The Commemorative Calendar features pictures kindly donated by Jim Glennon from his treasured family collection, including one of his grandfather standing outside his ruined pub, now the Milestone.
Some of the highlights of a busy year were the tours of Bremore Castle during the Balbriggan Summerfest and the Day trip to Cavan Museum in August. The Society has a long association with the restoration project at Bremore Castle and are delighted to see it restored and showcased in these hugely popular tours facilitated by Kevin Halpenny in Fingal County Council. The Castle was also host to the wonderful Christmas market this year. Our Day Trip was to the Cavan Museum in September. The museum is well worth visiting for the WWI trenches and the 1916 exhibition. There are many other attractions also in this beautiful building which is a former convent an a peace garden in the grounds.
Our talks programme commenced in March with  a talk to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Seamus Ennis called “The Wonderful work of Seamus Ennis Folk Music Collector” by Sean Corcoran. Drogheda native Seán Corcoran is a performer, academic and radio and TV documentary maker and an internationally-recognised expert on Irish Folk Music and Song. In April Aidan J Herron spoke about “Ardgillan Castle Revealed” . Aidan, former principal of St. Teresa’s National School in Balbriggan, is the author of the recently published and hugely popular book Ardgillan Castle Revealed which was launched by Pat Kenny in Ardgillan last year and features beautiful photography by Eamon O’Daly.  In August Dr. William Murphy, lecturer in modern Irish history at Dublin City University, presented “From Creating a Counter-State: Establishing and Building Dáil Éireann 1919”.
 
In August for Heritage week we helped organise the Heritage Network Pastimes and Past Times Heritage week event in Malahide. We value our involvement with the Fingal Heritage Network and events like this give us an opportunity to meet up and celebrate our Fingal heritage together. For our September talk our long standing member Rory McKenna presented a talk on the Foreshore Dispute 1874-76 which involved the sale of the Hamilton lands and their claim to the foreshore. In October we welcomed the students from Loreto Secondary School who shared their research into the Sack of Balbriggan. Then Eithne McDermott gave a fantastic talk on Clann na Poblachta and the Interparty Government. Eithne who has taught in NUIG spoke about the Interparty government and Clann na Poblachta who included Sean McBride and Dr Noel Browne,about the power of the Church and the poverty of the 1940’s.
Our activities in 2019 also inculded a Quiz, school visits and guided walks, mainly led by our long standing member Jim Walsh.
 
We look forward to a very busy year in 2020 as we plan to inform Balbriggan residents about the Sack of Balbriggan as we commemorate it in a meaningful and inclusive manor. 

Sack of Balbriggan Commemorative Calendar

Commemorative Calendar – Sack of Balbriggan

2020 is a very special year for our Society and Balbriggan as we prepare to commemorate The Sack of Balbriggan by the Black and Tans in September 1920. To prepare for this and as a momento of the year we have published a calendar which was available for sale for the great price of €10.
All copies of the Calendar have been sold but you can view it at this link Calendar 2020 BHS (9)
We would like to thank most sincerely Jim Glennon who provided treasured photographs from his family collection for this calendar.
We will update you later as to what other publications we will  have to commemorate this important year – watch this space!

For further information on our plans for 2020 see http://balbrigganhistory.com/balbriggan-is-the-place-to-be-in-2020/ 

 

October Talk: Clann na Poblachta & the Interparty Government Speaker: Eithne MacDermott

“A brief overview of Clann na Poblachta, and the Inter-Party Government 1948-51” by Eithne MacDermott.  This also featured talks by Loreto Secordary School Students on various aspects of the Sack of Balbriggan, including newspaper articles from the time, and Black and Tan attacks elsewhere.
Eithne’s talk covered some of the interesting features of Clann na Poblachta who included Sean McBride and Dr Noel Browne, a different political generation, the first time an inter-party or coalition government, which is now the norm, was formed and took office – and some comments on the inter party government itself. In light of Brexit she will also looked at Ireland, the Commonwealth and the Declaration of the Republic, and what leaving a major international organisation, the Commonwealth entailed.  She spoke without notes and had a huge knowledge of the subject including talking about when she met with the main people involved while researching her book on the subject.  She brought us back to the awful poverty of the 1940’s, the emergence of a new radical political movement, the fight against TB and the church, and the new concept of Coalition government

Eithne MacDermott has studied and taught in NUIG (Irish Politics; EU Studies; Comparative Politics: Western European Political Systems; and Eastern European History) and TCD (Modern History – Russian and Eastern European History), and has written a book on Clann na Poblachta which was published by Cork University Press in 1998.
She has served as an international election observer – nominated by the Irish Government for the past 22 years and has observed and reported on more than 25 elections across three continents in that time.  She has also served as with a number of EU civilian missions – seconded by Ireland – in Georgia, Afghanistan, and Somalia as a political adviser or analyst.

September Talk: The Foreshore dispute Speaker: Rory McKenna

We would like to thank Rory McKenna for his really interesting talk this evening on the Balbriggan Foreshore Dispute 1874-76. Rory gave a great insight into the Hamilton Family particularly George Alexander and his widow Amelia Fancourt and the town Commissioners of the time as well as the dispute that arose between the Hamilton family & Balbriggan Town Commissioners and the Bord of Trade over access to the foreshore.

The Foreshore dispute arose when the Hamilton Lands, which included most of Balbriggan, were being prepared for sale in 1874 and the foreshore and beach was included in the sale. This led to objections from the Balbriggan Town Commission and the Board of Trade in London. The issue arose again in in 1876 in relation to an application by Mrs Amelia Fancourt Hamilton for an exclusive lease of the foreshore adjoining her land, located where Hampton Cove is now. This led to an Enquiry in Balbriggan Courthouse in July 1876 before Arthur Fairfield an official from the Board of Trade in London.

Rory McKenna is a long standing member of Balbriggan & District Historical Society and an expert on Maritime history and has presented many talks for the Society, He will examine these very interesting events in Balbriggan’s History in two talks, the 2nd of which will be presented in 2020.

AGM – Wednesday November 27th at 8pm

Our AGM takes place in the Town Hall, Georges Square, Balbriggan at 8pm sharp on Wednesday November 27th.
As we come to the end of another busy year with Balbriggan & District Historical Society it is time to look back on all the year’s activities and look forward to a very special year for the Society and the Town in 2020 as we commemorate The Sack of Balbriggan in 1920.
While only members are permitted to vote everyone is welcome to attend, and we would love to see you there.

Balbriggan is the Place to be in 2020!

Balbriggan is the Place to be in September 2020

The centenary of the Sack of Balbriggan by the Black and Tans in September 1920 takes place next year and Balbriggan & District Historical Society is working to commemorate this major historic
event in an appropriate and inclusive manner.

This critically important part of our town’s history involved the shooting dead of one RIC member,
Peter Burke, and the wounding of another, which prompted the subsequent havoc wreaked on the
town and its inhabitants by the Black and Tans. Numerous houses, a factory and several business
premises in the town were destroyed as a result, and hundreds of people were forced to sleep
outdoors for several nights in fear of their lives.
The night of terror on 20th September culminated in the brutal murder of two local men, James
Lawless and John Gibbons by the Black and Tans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkWhvTCpwWM 
Building on contacts that the Society has forged with local schools, we plan to work with them in
early 2020, providing them with information regarding the Sack, and encouraging enthusiastic
involvement from all.
In the weeks leading up to September 2020, Sack-related historical walks of the town will be
organised.
In co-operation with local businesses and Fingal County Council, we intend to organise a
photographic exhibition to be displayed in the streets and in local businesses throughout the town.

Weekend Commemoration, 19th & 20th September 2020

A full-day seminar will take place in the Bracken Court Hotel on Saturday, 19th September,
involving a series of talks related to the Sack of Balbriggan and its aftermath, including events from
the perspective of the RIC. We hope to have an exhibition of contemporary media reports of the
events, together with other memorabilia relating to the Sack.
On Sunday, 20th September, a religious service will be held, followed by a parade and a wreath-
laying ceremony at the Lawless and Gibbons plaque on Bridge Street – an opportunity for everyone to get involved.
In addition, we plan to publish a book on the Sack of Balbriggan, and the unveiling of a
commemorative memorial in the town is another idea that is gaining momentum.
Watch out for our Sack of Balbriggan commemorative medals and calendars which will be
available for sale from this November (2019).
Balbriggan &Distri ct Historical Society can be contacted at balbrigganhistsoc@gmail.com.

The above release was issued to the Press on Monday September 16th 2019

August Talk: Creating a Counter-State: Establishing and Building Dáil Éireann

Title: Creating a Counter-State: Establishing and Building Dáil Éireann.
Speaker:  Dr. Will Murphy 
Wednesday August 28, Town Hall, Balbriggan at 8.00pm
Admission €5, Members free
This talk will examine the establishment of Dáil Éireann in January 1919. It will explore the context in which this new representative body was created. It will ask what those who created it hoped to achieve and how they communicated this, particularly at the first meeting. Finally, it will consider how a successful Dáil Éireann and its departments was a mechanism for challenging the existing state in Ireland.
Will Murphy is a lecturer in modern Irish history at Dublin City University. His most recent book, co-authored with Anne Dolan, is Michael Collins: the man and the revolution (Collins Press, 2018). In 2014 his Political Imprisonment and the Irish 1912-1921 was published by Oxford University Press. He has published numerous articles, including contributions to The Atlas of the Irish Revolution and the Cambridge Social History of Ireland.

April Talk: Ardgillan Castle Revealed Speaker: Aidan J Herron

Ardgillan Castle Revealed by Aidan J Herron. Wednesday April 24th 8pm,
Town Hall Balbriggan Adm: €5, members free
On Wednesday April 24th Balbriggan and District Historical Society  presented a talk in  the Town Hall Balbriggan at 8pm  called Ardgillan Castle Revealed – A lecture by Aidan J Herron.
Aidan, former principal of St. Teresa’s National School in Balbriggan, is the author of the recently published and hugely popular book Ardgillan Castle Revealed which was launched by Pat Kenny in Ardgillan last year and features beautiful photography by Eamon O’Daly.  We are all familiar with the wonderful Ardgillan Castle and Demesne on our doorstep but Aidan’s talk   “Revealed” lots more.

Quiz Night April 4th Milestone Inn Balbriggan

Balbriggan & District Historical Society will be hosting a Quiz Night upstairs in the Milestone Inn on Thursday the 4th of April. Come along and test your wits against your neighbours and friends – and have a good night out. Who knows – it could end in Historic Victory (if only in the raffle!!) Teams of 4, €40 per team Come along at 8pm for an 8.30 start. Spread the word

March Talk: The Wonderful Work of Séamus Ennis as a Folk-Music Collector Speaker: Seán Corcoran

The Wonderful Work of Séamus Ennis as a Folk-Music Collector –

An illustrated lecture by Seán Corcoran.

Wednesday March 27th 8pm, Town Hall Balbriggan Adm: €5, members free

Our first talk for 2019 will took place on Wednesday March 27th in the Town Hall Balbriggan at 8pm and was about Séamus Ennis whose birth 100 years ago is being celebrated this year, The talk by Seán Corcoran was called The Wonderful Work of Séamus Ennis as a Folk Music collector.

Drogheda native Seán Corcoran is a performer, academic and radio and TV documentary maker and an internationally-recognised expert on Irish Folk Music and Song. From the late 1960s he pioneered fieldwork/collecting techniques and at present lectures in Irish Music at Mary I College, University of Limerick.

We all know about the Séamus Ennis Centre in Naul and many of you knew Séamus Ennis himself. But this talk gave a further insight into his immense contribution to the collection and preservation of our wonderful musical heritage. Séamus Ennis was renowned as a master uilleann piper but this lecture highlighted his extraordinary work and international importance as a folk music collector.

Welcome to a new year and a look back to 2018

Welcome to another year with Balbriggan & District Historical Society and we hope you can join us at one of our events this year. We are busy putting together our programme for 2019 which will be available on our website www.balbrigganhistory.com soon. We hold 6 talks each year and they are always the last Wednesday in the month in the Town Hall Balbriggan so why not come along to this year’s first talk on March 26th – we would love to see you.
2018 was a great year for our Society with the two highlights being the Balbriggan People and Places 1893 Photographic Exhibition in the Bracken Court in October and the tour of Bremore Castle we hosted as part of the Summerfest in May.  We have a long association with the Bremore Castle restoration project and are delighted to see the plans for a regional park adjacent to the castle which will help showcase it as a centerpiece of Balbriggan’s rich heritage. The wonderful photographs we acquired in 2016 of Balbriggan in 1893 are of huge interest and definitely merit a further exhibition – watch this space! Research into Balbriggan’s rich history is one of our core aims and we are proud that 4 of our 6 2018 talks were presented by our own members Jim Walsh on Man O War and the Turks Head, Brian Howley on Bremore Castle, Ide Ní Liathan on The 1918 Election and Anne Collins on the Schools Folklore Project. We will continue to promote Local History in our Programme in 2019 as well as commemorating major National Events.  The Sack of Balbriggan in 1920 is one such major National Event we will be commemorating next year and our plans are well advanced in that regard . Our final talk of 2018 featured the research done by Loreto Secondary School Students on that topic.
We were delighted to attend the launch late  last year of the Our Balbriggan Consultation  regarding the exciting Socio Economic Plan plan which will transform Balbriggan. We welcome the importance of history recognised in the opening of the Mission Statement  “Building on its rich history….” .  and look forward to the plans implementation in our town.
For further information on our Society visit www.Balbrigganhistory.com or read one of our books which are on sale in Eason’s Millfield and The Book Haven Drogheda Street.

October Talk: The Schools’ Collection 1937-39 Speaker: Anne Collins

Our October talk took place on Wednesday 24th and showcased the Local History Projects done by the students in Loreto Secondary School on the theme of the Sack of Balbriggan.
Then our own Anne Collins shared some of the jewels of information to be found in The Schools’ Collection 1937-39 by looking at 3 local schools.

Thanks to the Loreto Secondary School students who shared their research into the Sack of Balbriggan with us on Wednesday, including a model of the town at the time.
Well done to Anne Collins on her first talk for the Society. Her facinating talk introduced us to some of the entries from three local schools in The Schools Collection 1937 to 1939. Remember you can access this treasure trove of information here https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes

https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498200

The School Folklore Collection

Approximately 740,000 pages (288,000 pages in the pupils’ original exercise books; 451,000 pages in bound volumes) of folklore and local tradition were compiled by pupils from 5,000 primary schools in the Irish Free State between 1937 and 1939.

This collecting scheme was initiated by the Irish Folklore Commission, under the direction of Séamus Ó Duilearga and Séan Ó Súilleabháin, Honorary Director and Registrar of the Commission respecgtively, and was heavily dependent on the cooperation of the Department of Education and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation.

 

 

Balbriggan: People and Places 1893 Photographic Exhibition October 19th & 20th

Balbriggan & District Historical Society was very proud to host a unique photographic exhibition of the people and places of Balbriggan taken in the year of 1893.
In 2016, the Society acquired a collection of photographs taken by Mr. Lewis Whyte, amateur photographer and Managing Director at Smyco factory on Railway Street. Many of the photographs were taken on a single day and capture the people and familiar places of our beloved town.
Since acquiring these photographs we have got them digitised and a selection of them printed. We feel that the conservation and exhibition of these albums is an important contribution by our Society to the cultural heritage of our town. To this end we held an exhibition in the Bracken Court Hotel on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th October and were truly delighted to see so many of you there. Many people shared memories of the people and places featured in the photographs, as they marvelled at the wonderful transformation of the photographs from the tiny originals to the enhanced prints on display.The exhibition was launched on Friday the 19th October, and continued on Saturday, 20th between 12 and 6 p.m.

Looking forward to seeing you there and be sure to spread the word about this must see exhibition.

September Talk: The Sinking of the Leinster – Speaker Cormac F Lowth

Our September talk “The Sinking of The Leinster – an Illustrated Lecture” was presented by Cormac F. Lowth on Wednesday September 26th in the Town Hall Balbriggan at 8pm. 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of a great disaster which occurred in the Irish Sea. Cormac outlined the tragic story of the sailboat ‘Leinster’ which was torpedoed by a German submarine on October 10th 1918 after leaving Dun Laoghaire, with horrendous loss of life. Over 500 people perished in what still remains the single greatest loss of life on the Irish Sea and it is doubly tragic because it happened only a few weeks before the end of the war.

This brilliantly researched talk, delivered without any notes, told the story of not just the Leinster but also of the many ships that sailed the Irish Sea around that era. Showing his detailed knowledge, some of it gained diving to the wreck of the Leinster, Cormac painted a vivid picture of the Leinster and its design, the passengers on it and the panic and mayhem that must have followed when it was torpedoed. As well as the perils of shipping during World War 1 Cormac also talked about the war on land and the horrific loss of life suffered in it. Cormac’s lecture, which even included old film reel of the Leinster, could’ve filled a few more talks and led to many questions from the large crowd.

Cormac F. Lowth is a member of The Maritime Institute of Ireland and he is currently Lectures Officer with the Dun Laoghaire Borough Historical Society. His lectures for us in the Balbriggan and District Historical Society in the past have included ‘Shipwrecks around Dublin Bay’ and ‘The Loss of the Lusitania’. Anyone who attended these talks will know Cormac’s huge passion for all things maritime and his extensive knowledge of the subject.

Admission €5, members free

August Talk: The General Election of 1918 in North Dublin – Speaker Íde Ní Liathain

Our August talk “The General Election of 1918 in North Dublin” was presented by Íde Ní Liathain on Wednesday August 29th in the Town Hall Balbriggan at 8pm. The talk looked at events leading up to the general election in December 1918, which changed Ireland forever. Íde examined how these events played out in Fingal. She also looked at the two men, John J Clancy and Frank Lawless, who opposed each other on election day: one representing the past & the other the future.

Íde, who joined the Committee of Balbriggan and District Historical Society this year, studied history in Maynooth University and has a Masters in Local History. She has worked for many years with Fingal Libraries and is now based in our local Balbriggan branch. We would like to congratulate Íde on her first talk which was a brilliantly researched and interesting talk. Íde traced the rise of Sinn Féin and the demise of the Parliamentary party as well as giving us a detailed introduction to the two candidates John J Clancy and Frank Lawless and also other 1918 events like Lá na nGael and the Spanish flu. She also used witness statements and contemporary newspaper coverage to describe anti- conscription rallies and meetings happening in Balbriggan in 1918 and the involvement of Balbriggan people like Jack Gaynor and others.

Balbriggan and District Historical Society Day Trip June 16th 2018

Balbriggan and District Historical Society Day Trip June 16th 2018
We will be heading north to visit to Omagh and the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh and returning for dinner to the Glenside Hotel.
Immerse yourself in the story of the brave emigrants who made the journey across the Atlantic to America hundreds of years ago. Wander through the thatched cottages and log cabins,Board a full-scale emigrant ship to experience the conditions faced by many as they set sail for a new life in America. With 30 buildings and exhibits to explore, the Ulster American Folk Park is a wonderfully unique experience.
All included for €50. This is always a lovely sociable occasion and I would really recommend it.
See link to Folk Park website https://www.nmni.com/ou…/ulster-american-folk-park/Home.aspx
Bus leaves Car Park at St Peter & Paul’s church at 9.30 sharp.
To book email Balbrigganhistsoc@gmail.com or ring Brian Howley 087 2269144 or Anne Collins 087 6245343

April Talk: History of Man O’War and the Turk’s Head Speaker: Jim Walsh

History of Man O’War and The Turk’s Head
Speaker Jim Walsh
Wednesday April 25th 8pm
Town Hall, Balbriggan

Jim Walsh needs no introduction and we are delighted to welcome him as our April speaker for a talk on the History of Man O’War and the Turk’s Head. The Man O’War area has a fascinating History, not least in relation to the mysterious Turk’s Head. What is known about it is that the wooden carving was mounted on the front of the old Man O War Inn for many years and proved a treat for travelers using the old coach road through Fingal. Jim will reveal much more in this talk which we are all looking forward to.
Admission €5, members free

Quiz Night Thursday April 12th Milestone Inn Balbriggan

Quiz Night Thursday April 12th Milestone Inn

A great night was had at our quiz in the Milestone Inn on Thursday April 12th. Well done to our quizmaster Brian Kavanagh and Kilian Harford for help with what were great questions. Congratulations to winners Jim Walsh’s team and very close runners up Fran Carroll’s team. Thanks to Damien and everyone at the Milestone for providing the room and all help on night, and to Supervalu, Browne’s Centra, and McLoughlins Oil for sponsoring prizes. Last but not least thanks to all of you for coming along and contributing to a great night.

March Talk: Experiences of a French Emigrant family in Ireland – Speaker Paul Bosonnet

Title: Exeriences of a French Emigrant family in Ireland

Speaker: Paul Bosonnet

Date: Wednesday March 28th 8pm

Venue: Town Hall Balbriggan

Our first talk of 2018 is “Experiences of a French Emigrant family in Ireland” by Paul Bosonnet and takes place on Wednesday next the 28th at 8pm in the Town Hall Balbriggan.
All the Bosonnets in Ireland are descended from one Ancestor, Jean Bosonnet (1791-1866) BA Professor of Languages, who arrived in Dublin with his wife and daughter in the mid 1830s. They left Taninges, France to escape persecution and settled initially in Dundalk and later in Dublin in the East Wall area. There were also a number of prominent persons living in the immediate areas associated with the family during this period – Sean O Casey, James Joyce, Canon Hall and Matt Talbot. This talk, as well as telling the family’s story, will give an insight into life in Ireland in the mid to late 19th century. Paul Bosonnet is a retired engineer who has carried out extensive research into the family in both Dublin and Dundalk liaising with the local archivist in Dundalk He is in touch with the family in Taninges and has conducted research with a local historian there. Jean Bosonnet was Paul’s great great grandfather, and the Bosonnet Family from Balbriggan are also connected.

Quiz Night Thursday April 12th Milestone Inn

Do you fancy testing your extensive knowledge of people and places or facts and figures? Or just fancy a fun night out? Come along to our Quiz on Thursday April 12th at 8pm upstairs in The Milestone Inn. Who knows it might result in an historic victory – if only in the raffle! First round starting at 8.30 sharp, €10 per person, teams of 4 and don’t worry if you don’t have a team we can arrange this on the night. Our quiz last year was a great night so don’t miss it.

If you would like to join our society it costs €15 per annum, €10 Students and OAP’s, €20 for a family This entitles you to free entrance to our 6 talks per year , usually the last Wednesday in the months – March. April. May, August, September and October, but you are welcome to attend individual talks for €5. We also have a summer day trip as well as historical walks and other events.

Dates for your diary: For our April 25th talk we have our well known member Jim Walsh speaking on the Turks Head and Man O’War. We will confirm details of our May talk later. On August 29th our newest committee member Íde Ní Liathain, from Balbriggan Library, will speak about the 1918 Election. The Sack of Balbriggan in 1920 was a huge event in the history of the town and as we approach the centenary in 2020 we will be including this topic in our schedule each year. On September 26th Jim Walsh will give us a talk where he will share some of his latest research on the topic.

Images of a monument to the Bosonnet family in France, the family grave in Glasnevin and an image of some of the family in 1867 at the Superintendents House Dublin Zoo

Welcome to 2018 with Balbriggan & District Historical Society

Welcome to 2018 with Balbriggan & District Historical Society.

We are currently putting together our programme of events for 2018 and we will be sharing those on the website as soon as possible. Check back with us over the next few weeks. To whet your appetite one of our long standing members Jim Walsh is giving a talk on Friday 23rd February at 8pm in Man O War GAA Club on the History of Man O War and the Turks Head. I am sure anyone who has heard Jim talk before will know that this is something to look forward to.

This year why not find out more about history, by getting involved with our Society. Have a read through our website developed for us by Dorothy Bentley of Fletcher Bentley. Have a look back at our activities – walks, talks, exhibitions, commemorations- and spread the word among your friends, particularly those who aren’t on Social Media.

To bring a fitting end to 2017 we were delighted to win an award at the Balbriggan Town Awards. We were particularly proud to be associated with the additional award for Frank Whearity for his book Balbriggan a History in Maps 1655-1900.

See Link for photographs

Due to its huge popularity Balbriggan a History in Maps had sold out and we had it reprinted and it
is available to buy in Book Haven, Easons, Drogheda Museum Millmount and Skerries Mills.

Talks Archive 2017

MONTHSPEAKERTITLE
AprilDavid ArnoldThomas Ashe the Revolutionary Teacher
MayPadraig YeatesIreland and the Russian Revolution, Lost Opportunities or Lost Illusions
AugustSinead McCooleWomen of the Revolutionary Years
SeptemberDavid DoolinThe Fenian Invasion of Canada 1866
OctoberMay McKeon Old Memories of Balbriggan (Part 2) plus Hannagh Rudden, Niamh Daly, Alison McGuinness, Rachel Sweetman and Abbie Hurley from Loreto Secondary School

Talks Archive 2016

MONTHSPEAKERTITLE
MarchDavid GrundyArdgillan Halt-A History of the Railway Halt for the Taylor Family of Ardgillan Castle
AprilRory McKennaNicholas Rath-The Albert Medal Recipient in 1917
May1916 SeminarBairbre Curtis-Fingal in 1916, Liz Darcy-Conserving and Original 1916 Proclamation. Jimmy Wren - The 1916 GPO Garrison and the Connection with OTooles G.A.A Club. Sean Collins-Observing from Afar The Easter Rising Louth and Meath. Micheal MacMathuna-Sinead Ni Fhlannagain (Bean De Valera), Daughter of Balbriggan, & 1916 Readings of Proclamation by Local Secondary School Students.
AugustPaddy BoyleThe Irish Volunteers, Balbriggan 1913-1922
SeptemberBrendan MatthewsCollier the Robber
OctoberMay McKeonOld Memories of Balbriggan (Part 1), plus Priyanka Cottacoopen, Melanie Fidel, Orla Beggs and Femi Kasim from Loreto Secondary School

Talks Archive 2015

 

MONTHSPEAKERTITLE
MarchGary BraniganAncient and Holy Wells of Dublin
AprilTom ReillyCromwell Was Framed
MayCormac LowthThe Sinking of the Lusitania
AugustJim WalshBremore Castle and Church
SeptemberPhilip LecaneBeneath a Turkish Sky-The Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the Assalt on Gallipoli
OctoberDavid O'ConnorFrom the Liffey to the Boyne, an evening of Songs and Lore from the Fingal & East Meath area plus Holly Keogh, Eibhlin Mallon and Lubna Arzal from Loreto Secondary School

Talks Archive 2014

MONTHSPEAKERTITLE
MarchJim WalshBalbriggan's Carnegie Free Library - A History
AprilColm LennonThe Battle of Clontarf 1014 in Irish History and Legend
MayPeadar SlatteryThe uses of Photography in Ireland 1839-1900
AugustFrank WhearityThe Irish Volunteers of North County Dublin and Balbriggan 1914-1915
SeptemberDavid SorensonSt. George's School Balbriggan 1859-2014
OctoberDavid SnookBalbriggan merchant Seamen in the Great War- 20 Faces from 1918