The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Killorglin archive society make renewed appeal for documents
AFTER a successful year in 2012 the Killorglin Archive Society is looking forward to the New Year with a renewed appeal to the local community for photographs and documents that are of historical interest.
Established last year with the aim of selecting, preserving and making accessible the documentary heritage of Killorglin parish, the Society has already archived more than 4,000 photographs, released a fund-raising music CD featuring local people, held old-style dances, initiated an ongoing project documenting the men and women from Killorglin parish who served in the First World War and published its first newsletter which is available to view on www.killorglinarchives.com
The Society also intend interviewing local people whose firsthand accounts of special events and day-to-day life in early-mid 20th century Killorglin will, along with all the archived photographs and documentary material, serve as invaluable sources of information on the area’s past for future generations.
The Killorglin Archive Society is based in the Sean Scoil, Sunhill, where Tracey Spencer and Mike Foley have been digitally recording and archiving collected and donated material.
Johnny ‘Porridge’ O’Connor, Chairman of the Killorglin Archive Society committee, of which Professor Donnchadh Ó Corráin, Irish historian and Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at UCC is an associate member, told The Kerryman of the importance of preserving photographs and documentary material for future generations.
He said many homes had invaluable sources of information such as photographs that the Society would like.
“It is important that photographs and document are preserved for future generations. People have photos in their homes that other people would love to see,” he said.
“An awful lot of documents that maybe would have been lost have been saved. I love looking at old photographs, trying to identify people, seeing the changes in the parish and I’m sure other people from Killorglin parish and whose ancestors may have come from the area do too,” he added.