Justin kicks off ‘18 history series

HISTORY enthusiasts of all ages were out in force at Ardfert Retreat Centre on Thursday evening to hear local publican and WWII expert Justin Horgan deliver an insightful talk on German air losses in Ireland during the conflict.

It was a talk based on Justin’s book Luftwaffe Eagles over Ireland – co-authored with Patrick Cummins – book which was released to great acclaim on October 26, 2016

Justin’s impressive mastery of the subject was clear in every aspect of his lecture.

The presentation focused on the stories of German air crashes over Ireland between 1940-1945.

Justin delivered the accounts of downed airmen, such as Walther Hollborn, who were later interned at the Curragh camp in Kildare.

Upon interviewing many of these veterans, Justin found that life had been good at the Curragh with most of the internees wishing to remain in Ireland after the war – some even married Irish women!

There was a great turnout at the event with both young and old coming to delve into a lesser known history of their local area from a reputable source.

A great evening was had by all at what was the first instalment of the 2018 history series at the well-known Retreat Centre. The next scheduled historical lecture in the Centre takes place on Thursday, February 8, presented by County Librarian Tommy O’Connor on the history of Tobar na Molt (Wether’s Well), a famous Ardfert holy site.

Justin Horgan