As part of ‘Literary Month’ (May), which is being run by Creative Ireland Longford, County Longford Historical Society is sponsoring a lecture entitled ‘The life and work of John Keegan ‘Leo’ Casey’ by historian and author Gearoid O’Brien. The lecture takes place in Ballymahon Library on Tuesday, 7 May at 7.30 pm and all are welcome. The replica of the ‘Leo Casey Banner’, used by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Kenagh, will be on display on the evening.

Committee member Kitty Hughes will give a lecture entitled ‘The first local elections and councils in County Longford, 1899’ in Longford Library on 10 April at 7.30 pm. This year marks the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the local authority system that included county councils, rural district councils and urban district councils. Kitty has done extensive research into the subject in Longford and the lecture promises to be most interesting and informative.

Longford County Library, Heritage and Archives Services and County Longford Historical Society will jointly host a lecture and the opening of an exhibition on the Annals written in Saints’ Island Priory in Longford Library on Wednesday, 6 March. Prof. Pádraig Ó Riain, Emeritus Professor of Early and Medieval Irish in UCC will speak on ‘Saints’ Island and Abbeyderg Priories and their manuscripts’, with special emphasis on the Annals written on Saints’ Island covering the period 1392-1407.

Prof. Ó Riain will also open an exhibition on the subject, which includes images of the Annals, which are held in the Bodleian Library, Oxford University. County Longford historical Society bought the images from the library last year and the exhibition will allow local people to view this unique part of Longford’s cultural heritage. The Annals were written mostly by a priest named Augustine Magraidhin, who died in 1405 and contain important information on local events and those further afield.

Our next lecture “The legacy of the early Irish Monks” by Fred Carney will take place on March 3rd 2016 at 8.00 pm in St Mel’s Collage, Longford.

 

LONGFORD HERITAGE LECTURE

A talk on the Táin Bó Cúailnge, its routes through Co. Longford and recreating the march from Rathcroghan to the Cooley Peninsula, Speaker Dr Paul Gosling, G.M.I.T. Longford Library, Tuesday 22nd March 2016, 7pm. Admission Free, everyone welcome.

The next meeting of Longford Historical Society will take place in the Longford Arms Hotel on 10th March 2016 at 8.00 pm.

PURCHASING TEATHBHA OR OTHER PUBLICATIONS OR PAYING MEMBERSHIP FEES

THROUGH INTERNET BANKING. IF YOU USE INTERNET BANKING

YOU CAN PAY THROUGH THE BELOW ACCOUNT LINK

Account Name. Longford Historical Society

Main Street, Longford

IBAN is.  IE35 BOFI 90177321477369

BIC: BOFIIE2D

 

Visit the website www.longfordatwar.ie for the latest information on Longford soldiers in World War One.

If you have a Longford relative who served in the war who is not listed please contact the webmaster with any information you may have.

The DVD “From the Workhouse to the County Home: a Longford Story” was launched in June. Copies of the DVD, which was sponsored by Co. Longford Historical Society, are still available from St. Joseph’s Care Home, Luke Baxter’s Chemist and the Presbytery, Longford, price €10.

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.

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.