Nick Maxwell 10 September is National Heritage Day. The majority of local history societies have lectures, field trips or outings planned for the occasion. For Moate Historical Society in County Westmeath, the day has added significance with the opening of the town’s museum. The National Bronze Age exhibition will be the first installation on view. Meanwhile north … Read more
At the end of May County Monaghan celebrated the 400th anniversary of the battle of Clontibret where Hugh O’Neill first impressed the world with his skills of generalship by harrying and nearly destroying the army of Marshal Bagenal. Like the original undertaking, the commemoration was a triumph of local organisation. An evening of lectures on … Read more
The ninth Irish Conference of Medievalists took place in the usual venue of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth from 22 to 24 June 1995. It was preceded by a day-long review of the present position of the various disciplines—early Irish history, literature, language, archaeology, hagiography, legal and metrical material. It is intended that the proceedings will … Read more
Present day visitors to the Picture Gallery in Kilkenny Castle find a very large airy room decorated with a number of Ormonde family portraits. The atmosphere is of quiet contemplation of the works of art. On the 12 October, 1912 there was a very different atmosphere as a large number of people assembled for an … Read more
Speaking in the Houses of Parliament in 1886 T.P. O’Connor, one of Parnell’s closest associates, forecast what Ireland would look like under Home Rule. He described ‘a nation of small farmers—one vast universal petite bourgeoisie’. In support of his characterisation he goes on to exhort his listeners to Go to the Royal Academy and look … Read more