Lessons in local history with Muskerry Society
IT promises to be a busy few months ahead for the Muskerry Local History Society, which has just unveiled details of a packed schedule of events for the remainder of 2016 and into 2017.
Local involvement in aerial innovation, one of the great sea battles of World War I and the War of Independence will be some of the subjects addressed in a series of lectures to be delivered by society members and special guests.
The next event will take place during September, when members will hold a tree-planting ceremony, date and venue to be confirmed, commemorating the 1916 Rising. This will be followed by brief talk by Dermot O’Donovan on Ballincollig’s connections to the Rising.
On Monday, October 17 Dagmar Ó Riain-Raedel will present a talk entitled ‘Kilcrea and Crookstown in the Middle Ages – The European Dimension’.
On Monday, November 7 the society will launch the latest edition of its bi-annual history journal ‘ Times Past’. Packed with fascinating articles, photographs and drawings, ‘ Times Past’ is a must for anyone with an interest in local history.
On Monday, November 21 Tony McCarthy will deliver a presentation on Cork involvement in one of the most infamous sea engagements of World War I, The Battle of Jutland. More than 120 of the 8,600 sailors who died in the 1916 battle were from Cork, including three from the Muskerry area. The lecture will recall some of their stories and of the ships on which they served and ultimately lost their lives.
The final event of the year, on Monday December 5, will see Dermot O’Donovan deliver a presentation on Baile Mhúirne born Séan Ó Ríordáin, a man widely regarded as one of the most important Irish language poets of the 20th century.
Into 2017 and on Monday, January 16 Tim Crowley will present a talk entitled ‘Frongoch Prison Camp – University of Revolution’. He will speak about the Irish men who were interred at the camp in Wales following the Rising, detailing life there and how it became the seed bed of the Irish State.
Other highlights of the 2017 schedule will include a talk documentary on the role Cork women played during the revolutionary years, the first manned balloon assent in Cork in 1816 by Windham Sandler and the repercussions the War of Independence had on Cork communities.
All of the talks will take place at the Ballincollig Rugby Club.
Another important date to remember will be Saturday May 6, when the society will take a day-trip to Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetery.
For more information on all of the above events contact Liam Hayes on 087 782 8546 or Dermot O’Donovan on 021 487 3266.