Programme of Events:
Mon August 25th: Official opening. Also launch of an online database of Longford soldiers and nurses who served in the war – longfordatwar.ie
Wed August 27th: World War Memorabilia afternoon. Bring along photographs, medals, or other military items from WW1 to find out more about their history.
Thurs August 28th: Fr Tom Murray will give an illustrated talk of the Longford Casualties and their final resting places across the globe.
As part of Heritage Week, the Historical Society is organising the Walking Tour of Ardagh Village on Wednesday August 27th at 7:00pm.
Refreshments served afterwards.
WE have organised a day trip to Co Offaly for Saturday Sept 6th with tour guide Stephen MacNeill of Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society.
Please book with Maureen Mulryan by August 30th.
We offer sympathy to the following: to the Lyons family, Ardagh on the death of Patricia Lyons; to the family of the late Shirley McGlynn, in Australia (author of ‘The Flemings of Richmond Harbour and cousin of Sir Edmund Hillary) to Mary B. Reilly, Moyne, on the death of her husband Jim this week – all were Life members. To the following members who have been bereaved we offer sympathy: Frank Hughes on the death of his mother Rose; Jude Flynn on the death of his sister Una Wilkinson; Sr. Rosario Beirne on the death of her brother Paddy; Florence Ann Lawlor on the death of her son Stephen and Maria Farrell on the death of her mother Mary Sweeney.
Over the next four years we will be commemorating the involvement of Longford people in World War 1, in conjunction with Longford Library and others.
A Facebook site has been set up to encourage people to share their stories of relatives who took part in the war – https://www.facebook.com/longfordremembers
In the coming months Longford Library will be launching a website and database and an Exhibition to coincide with the anniversary of the outbreak of war in August 1914.
If any members have photographs or other memorabilia which might be included in the exhibition please get in touch with Hugh Farrell – hufarel@gmail.com tel: 3342104; Fr. Tom Murray teathbha@gmail.com tel. 3346465 or Martin Morris mmorris@longfordcoco.ie
Martin Morris has written a history of Longford Town Council to coincide with the dissolution of the Council at the end of May. Martin traces the Council’s origins back to 1668 when Longford Borough Corporation was established by a charter granted by King Charles II. This body played a very limited role as a local authority until it was abolished in 1840. A board of Commissioners existed from 1828 until 1846; Longford Town Commissioners was first formed in 1855 and Longford Urban District Council was established in 1900, renamed Longford Town Council in 2002.
On Wednesday, June 4th at 2pm in St. Joseph’s Care Centre in Longford the DVD “From the Workhouse to the County Home: a Longford Story” will be launched by Bishop Colm O’Reilly. All members are welcome to attend. Co. Longford Historical Society has funded the production of the DVD which sells for €10, with €2 of each sale going to Longford Social Services. We would encourage all our members to support this very worthwhile project. Copies will be available at St. Joseph’s Care Centre, Baxter’s Chemist and the Presbytery, Longford or from Committee members. You can also order it by contacting 087 2226037, cost €11 including postage.
The DVD is the outcome of an oral history project that began under the auspices of the HSE. A number of people associated with the County Home, such as former staff members, were interviewed about their experiences there. One of these was the late Sr Calasanctius Duffy, who worked in St Joseph’s for about forty years and served as matron. Extracts from the interviews have been skilfully edited and the many old photographs used contribute to a very impressive production, telling the story from 1842 when the Workhouse was founded, to the St. Joseph’s of modern times.
The date for the Autum tour is September 12th, bus leaves Cathedral Car Park Longford at 10am sharp, taking in, Drumshanbo, Dromahair, Parkes Castle, Drumcliffe, Mullaghmore, Sligo and Lissadell House. Total cost €50. Members wishing to travel please send full amount to Maureen Mulryan at 7 St. Emer’s – contact number 043 33 48821. Evening meal in the Bush Hotel, Carrick on Shannon.
We thank those in the Farrell Clan who organised the trip to Clontarf on April 23rd and the very informative talk by Dr. Sean Duffy of Trinity College on ‘Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf’.
The following outings are planned: