Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee of the Federation of Local History Societies, held on Saturday, 18th September, Collins Barracks

Members attended representing all societies on the committee, with the following exceptions from whom apologies were received
Fr Seán O’Doherty (Hon President) Dermot Ryan (Hon Sec.) Frank Taffe (Hon. Editor).
Joe Williams was replaced by Joan Steed.

Chairman Larry Breen presided.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and accepted.
Arising from the minutes it was agreed that a booking would be made with National Museum at Collins Barracks for the four scheduled dates of these meetings.
These dates are to be;
Dec 11th 2010, March 12th 2011, June 18th 2011, and Sept. 10th 2011.
It was also pointed out by Pádraig Laffan that having a small number of meetings on fixed dates enables prospective members of the federation committee to have the extent of their commitment laid out in advance, which should assist in encouraging committee membership.
The Chairman Described the response he had had from the FULS committee and delegates concerning the recent Urban Experience joint North /South seminar.
He said that they described themselves as being overwhelmed wit the welcome they received and with the smooth operation of events on the day.
There is a comprehensive report including pictures on the FULS website.
There was some discussion on the continued problems with our own website.
Kieran Hoare explained the current difficulties and suggested that pending the complete recommissioning of the website that he would produce a ‘blog’ site which would contain items of news and other information, and would allow for a response from members.
The committee agreed that this would be of great benefit.
Insurance for societies within the group scheme was discussed and Ruth Coffey said that their society had received a refund of €61 from O’Conner’s Insurance (our brokers) possibility related to enquiries related to this matter. There appears to be developing a situation where some societies have obtained cheaper insurance despite being outside the group scheme. It was agreed that Larry Breen Pádraig Laffan and Frank Taffe would persue this matter further with our broker and if necessary change our group insurance supplier or broker to get the best possible value for member societies. Relating the best cover to the costs involved. Pádraig agreed to talk to Liam Clare who had been instrumental in getting the original insurance package which was a considerable saving for members when first negotiated.
The Autumn Seminar on 30th October was discussed.
The title to be;
“Facilitating Historical Research and Preservation of Local Archives”

AGM 2011
There was discussion of forthcoming events including the next AGM.
There was general agreement on the plan to stage the AGM over a weekend in May 2011 in Kilmallock, and the proposal of the Diebert House Hotel seems to be satisfactory.
However the hotel’s suggested date of 7th may weekend should be changed to 21st Mayas first preference or 14th May as second preference.
Diebert is offering 2B7Band 2 evening meals for €140 with fully equipped meeting room hire for €100.
It was also agreed that for the actual AGM day (Saturday) we should have the hotel provide a more complete lunch for those who might only be able to attend that day .
They had offered a seafood platter at €9.50
The hotel is 9km from Charleville rail station. However they would provide pickup and
return facilities if we wished.
Pending these details it was agreed to try and promote this event intensively as a weekend event.
A North/South workshop will take place in the 2nd half of 2011
John Dooher of FULS is working on this. It is to be in Belfast.
As part of the joint Urban Experience the next event will be in Downpatrick in July.
This will be organised by FULS.
There was an outstanding suggestion by Fr. O’Doherty of a visit to York.
Members felt that this is an excellent idea but it would have to be postponed due to the number of events already scheduled. There was general agreement that this idea should be revisited later.
Financial Report
The chairman reported that the financial situation is little changed from last month.
As Dermot had been unexpectedly taken ill before this meeting a detailed report is not available right now.
Publications
Chairman reported that Frank Taffe has the next Journal almost completed. The usual difficulty of getting material from societies caused this delay.
There is a newsletter now prepared and this will issue shortly.
It was agreed tar we should produce two of these newsletters annually.
The meeting was completed by 1p.m.

Next meeting as per above to be on December 11th2010 at Collins Barracks


P.J.L.

Report on our Autumn Seminar

The Seminar arranged for Collins Barracks Museum on Saturday 30th October proved to be very successful, with an almost capacity audience in the lecture room. 27 local history societies were represented and heard interesting and informative talks by Liam Kenny, Bridget Loughlin, Mario Corrigan and Ronan Colgan. The last speaker of the day, Ronan Colgan, is Editor and Chief of History Press and his talk concentrated on how publishers deal with manuscripts from receipt of the work until the printed book appears on the bookshelves.

The large attendance from as far apart as Westport, Co. Mayo and Co.
Clare would tend to confirm that the availability of public transport to a seminar venue is an important advantage for the holding of such events.

In the photograph left to right. Liam Kenny; Bridget Loughlin; Ronan Colgan; Mario Corrigan and Frank Taaffe

Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society now available

Volume 62 of the Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society is now available at www.gahs.info . Articles include Liam McKinstry, 'Burnt mounds at Doughiska'; Liam McKinstry, 'The excavations of a ringfort and souterrain at Kilcloghans, Co. Galway'; Philip McEvansoneya, 'The 'Ardrahan' Brooch'; Paul McNulty, 'The genealogy of the Anglo-Norman Lynches who settled in Galway'; Nollaig O Muraile, 'The O Ceallaigh Rulers of Ui Mhaine - A Genealogical Fragment, c.1400 Part II'; Eoghan O hAnnrachain, 'The Lally Inventory'; Alf McLochlainn, 'Scéal i mBarr Bata?'; James Roy, 'Four Irish miniatures of the Persse Family, Moyode Castle, Co. Galway (continued)'; Paul Gosling, Sabine Springer, Moya Cannon and Joe Murphy, 'The grave of Eliza Murphy on Island Eddy, Co. Galway'; Padraig G Lane, 'Galway & Mayo fisheries in the mid nineteenth century'; Nollaig MacCongail, 'Fíoradh na Físe Gaelaí?'; John Dunleavy, ''Turbulent Priest'; Amandine Plantivaux, Arnaud Daron and Penelope Walker, 'Bee Boles at Moycullen' and Diarmuid O Cearbhaill, 'Bobby Burke and the Tuam Parish Council of Muinter na Tíre'.

Cathair na Mart 2011 - Now for Sale

Cathair na Mart 2011 is now available for purchase at http://www.westportheritage.com/ . Articles include 'The Addergoole 14 and Emigration' by Julian Frewen; 'Talk, Gossip, Yarns and Anecdotes: Folklore surrounding James Lynchehaun of Achill' by Patricia Byrne; 'An 'antiquarian policeman' in Mayo' by Maire Lohan, 'The History and Architecture of Rosturk Castle, Rosturk, County Mayo (Part 1), by Fintan Masterson, 'The amorous Irish peasantry - the original race, the happiest in the world' by Sean Magee; 'Notes towards an Outline of Rural labour Organization in Mayo 1850-1910', by Padraig G Lane; 'Deane's Western Architectural Gems' by Oliver Murphy; 'Michael T Hastings (1876-1972), Westport and Leenane', by Michael McGinley; 'Eamon DeValera and Major John McBride', by Anthony J Jordan; 'The De Burgo-O'Malley Tomb and Chantry Chapel at Ballintubber Abbey, Co. Mayo (Part 1)' by Jim Higgins, 'Lough Carra, Co Mayo (Part 2) (The Medieval and Post-Medieval Settlement', Fiona White; 'Island Funeral' by Ger Reidy; 'St. Colman's Church, Shrule' by Yvonne McDermott and 'A Bridge Too Far' by Noel O'Neill.

STROKESTOWN PARK HOUSE

STROKESTOWN PARK HOUSE
WINTER LECTURE SERIES 2010-2011


Strokestown Park House, in association with
the Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses & Estates at NUI Maynooth,
will present a series of public lectures at Strokestown Park House as follows:

Lecture 1: Wednesday, 20 October 2010 8pm – 9pm
Prof. Mary Ann Lyons, Head of History Department, National University of Ireland Maynooth
'Strangers to Citizens': Introducing the exhibition at Strokestown Park House

Lecture 2: Wednesday, 17 November 2010 8pm – 9pm
Diane Dunnigan, NUI Maynooth
Six to each townland: Return migration to Roscommon and the west of Ireland at the turn of the
nineteenth century: who returned and why?

Lecture 3: Wednesday, 15 December 2010 8pm – 9pm
Dr Terence Dooley, Director, CSHIHE, History Department, NUI Maynooth
What role for Strokestown Park House in the twenty-first century?

Lecture 4: Wednesday, 16 February 2011 8pm – 9pm
Ciaran Reilly, NUI Maynooth
The Strokestown Famine papers: what do they reveal about the Great Famine at local level?

Lecture 5: Wednesday, 16 March 2011 8pm – 9pm
Dr Karol Mullaney-Dignam, IRCHSS Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, NUI Maynooth
Music and dancing in the Irish country house in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries


ADMISSION FEE: €10 per lecture or €40 for all five lectures
Payment by cheque only, made payable to ‘Westward Holdings’ and addressed to:
Strokestown Park House, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. As places are limited, early
booking is essential. Bookings cannot be taken without payment of lecture fee which is nonrefundable.
All lectures will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
All enquiries to Strokestown Park House only.
Telephone: + 353 (0) 71 96 33013 E-mail: info@strokestownpark.ie

Dublin in the Medieval World

Dublin in the Medieval World
Studies in honour of Howard B. Clarke

John Bradley, Alan J. Fletcher & Anngret Simms, editors

This volume celebrates medieval Dublin. Among the many subjects and topics covered are the intellectual climate of Dublin in the 1970s, the exciting theme of cross cultural processes between the Scandinavian settlers and the native Irish, focusing on language, settlement structure, maritime warfare, politics, childhood and family. Another part of the book, extending over the high-medieval period, deals with spiritual and secular aspects of medieval Dublin providing new research on Christ Church Cathedral, St Mary’s Abbey, the hermits of St Augustine, intra-mural churches, Dublin castle, its medieval harbours, medieval land-use in the hinterland of Dublin, the meaning of a lost stone cross and late-medieval relics of Holy Trinity Church, as well as two textual editions consisting of the earliest recension of the Dublin Chronicle and the accounts of the Holy Trinity Guild. The final section includes representations of Viking and medieval Dublin in texts, maps and finally ‘Dublinia’, the medieval Dublin heritage centre. This book is very entertaining in parts as well as informative. It takes the reader effortlessly to the most recent frontiers of research. The book includes c.75 black and white illustrations and 10 in colour as well as a comprehensive bibliography.John Bradley lectures in the department of history in NUI, Maynooth. Anngret Simms is emeritus professor of Geography at University College Dublin and co-editor of the hugely popular Making of Dublin City Series and Alan J. Fletcher lectures in the department of English at University College Dublin.

Kilmallock to revitalise it's medieval walls

Ambitious new conservation and management strategies for Kilmallock, one of Ireland’s most intact Walled Towns were unveiled earlier this month.The reopening of the local railway station and the development of a new heritage centre in the town are just two of the many potential projects earmarked for Kilmallock as part of the town's ambitious new conservation and management strategies.The Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Martin Mansergh, launched the Kilmallock Town Walls Conservation and Management Plan and Kilmallock Walled Town Public Realm Plan at a ceremony attended by members of the local action team, public representatives, local councillors and the public in Deebert House Hotel in the town.Initiated by Limerick County Council under the Irish Walled Towns Network Action Plan 2006-08, the strategies are geared towards developing a greater appreciation of, and access to, the historic town walls, and boosting local tourism.Among the potential projects and initiatives earmarked for the town is the development of interpretative facilities and looped heritage walkways and the reopening of the local railway station.