Tag Archives: History

Fake News, Forgery and Dirty Tricks: the British Secret Service, Parnell and Ireland, 1885 to 1892

Wednesday, 15 January, at 8.15pm in the Officers’ Mess, Custume Barracks Talk by Mr Justice John MacMenamin, Supreme Court Summary Under the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell, the Irish Parliamentary Party achieved unprecedented success in the mid-1880’s. The Party held the balance of power at … Continue reading

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Casement’s Irish Brigade and U-boats around Ireland

Wednesday, 13 November, at 8.00pm in the Officers’ Mess, Custume Barracks Talks by Dr Pat McCarthy and Guy Warner Summary In October 1914, after the outbreak of the First World War, Roger Casement travelled to Germany with two objectives: to obtain an agreement that, in the … Continue reading

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The Billy English Memorial Lecture, 2019 – ‘Unlocking the Myths of the 1970 Arms Crisis’

Tuesday, 30 April, at 8.30pm in the Wineport Lodge, Athlone Talk by Dr Michael Heney Summary The lecture will explain how new research on the 1970 Arms Crisis challenges the conventional view of events in 1969-70. In a revisionist approach, … Continue reading

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The Deserted Anglo-Norman Town and Castle of Rindoon

Wednesday, 27 March, at 8.15pm in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone Talk by Dr Kieran O’Conor Summary The elements that make up the archaeological complex at Rindoon, Co. Roscommon, consist of a hospital, town wall, house platforms, church, castle, quays, windmill, fishponds and a possible deer-park, all mostly … Continue reading

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Irish Revolutionary Women and the Wider World

Tuesday, 12 February, at 8.15pm in the Officers’ Mess, Custume Barracks Talk by Dr Kate O’Malley Summary In the aftermath of the Easter Rising and the Irish Revolution, the Irish struggle for independence was watched closely by nationalists in other parts of the British Empire, most notably … Continue reading

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The Fenian Invasion of Canada, 1866

Wednesday, 5 December, at 8.15pm in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone Talk by Dr David Doolin Summary This talk will focus on the 1866 Fenian Brotherhood’s incursions into British North America. It will show that this relatively little known and often derided episode is of greater importance … Continue reading

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The early diaries (1922-1934) of Athlone journalist, Peter Kilroy (1907-1971)

Wednesday, 14 November, at 8pm in Athlone Public Library Talk by Prof John Horgan and Presentation by Sr Anne Kilroy Summary Prof Horgan will discuss the life and career of Peter Kilroy, an Athlone journalist. Kilroy was a journalist for nearly fifty years, beginning in 1923 until … Continue reading

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From Farm to Table – Agriculture and Diet in Medieval Ireland

Tuesday, 30 October, at 8.15pm in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone Talk by Dr Margaret Murphy Summary This talk will examine the variety of sources that can be used to reconstruct diet and farming practices in Ireland. Dr Murphy will explore patterns of food production and consumption in … Continue reading

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The 2018 William (Billy) English Memorial Lecture: ‘The Rise of de Valera, 1882-1932: the making of the Chief’

Wednesday, 25 April, at 8.30pm in the Wineport Lodge Talk by David McCullagh Summary How did Éamon de Valera emerge from obscurity to become the undisputed leader of Irish nationalism during the War of Independence? How did his background shape him and forge the character that … Continue reading

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Douglas Hyde and the making of the Irish Presidency

Wednesday, 17 January, 8.15pm in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone Talk by Dr Brian Murphy Summary – Eighty years ago, Douglas Hyde was elected unopposed as Ireland’s first President. He served a full seven year term and retired from office in 1945. As President, Hyde had … Continue reading

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