Cumann Seandalaiochta agus Staire Phort Lairge

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Upcoming Lecture 31/01/25 : Quills and Quandaries: Insights into Eighteenth-Century Ireland through James Ryan's 'Carrick Man's Diary'


 Quills and Quandaries: Insights into Eighteenth-Century Ireland through James Ryan's 'Carrick Man's Diary' : A lecture by Dr Bláithín Hurley to the Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society

The Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society’s first lecture of 2025  will be at 8 pm on Friday, January 31st in St Patrick’s Gateway Centre, Waterford (Eircode X91 YX61) when Dr Bláithín Hurley, will deliver a talk titled ‘Quills and Quandaries: Insights into Eighteenth-Century Ireland through James Ryan's 'Carrick Man's Diary'’.

 



Between 1787 and 1809, James Ryan meticulously chronicled the events of Carrick-on Suir, and beyond, in a diary that serves as a unique historical artifact. Ryan's entries offer a captivating glimpse into the tumultuous era of the late eighteenth century, marked by significant global and local upheavals. For example, one notable entry, dated August 10th, 1789, sheds light on the unfolding chaos of the French Revolution, as Ryan vividly describes the brutal assault on the King of France’s Swiss Guards and court officers by an enraged mob in Paris. Concurrently, he reports a grisly local incident—the murder of Bryan Murphy’s wife and the subsequent hanging of her husband for the crime—a stark reminder of the violence that permeated daily life in Ireland at that time.

Ryan's diary serves as a testament to the connections and relationships between global events and local happenings. Amidst the backdrop of the French Revolution and the Irish Rebellion of 1798, Carrick-on-Suir became a microcosm of the larger tumult engulfing the nation. Ryan's entries document the passage of soldiers through the town en route to rebellion flashpoints, as well as the arrival of French fleets in Sligo and Cork to aid Irish rebels. His corresponding entry in which he discusses the absence of the Dublin Mail Coach due to a rebel uprising in Naas and Carlow only serves to accentuate the impact the rebellion had on everyday Irish life.

Ryan's unique approach to diary-keeping adds depth to his narrative. Rather than following a traditional chronological order, he organises his notes by subject, categorising entries under headings such as, ‘Accidents’; ‘Deaths’; and ‘Phenomenon’. Interspersed throughout are occasional recipes, medical cures, and instructions on preparing quills and inks, revealing his meticulous attention to detail and diverse interests.

Despite its small size and distance from urban centres like Dublin, Waterford and Cork, Carrick-on-Suir was not isolated from cultural trends and entertainment. Travelling players frequently stopped in the town, treating locals to plays, concerts, and operettas. These performances introduced Carrick-on-Suir to the latest musical fashions and dramatic productions, ensuring that residents remained abreast of cultural developments. For instance, in a display of local talent, the young gentlemen of Mrs. Dineen’s ‘Carrick Academy’ staged a performance of The Siege of Damascus to great acclaim, displaying the town's vibrant cultural scene.

In this talk, we embark on a journey through the past, exploring the intersections of Irish, European and global history, side-by-side with community, and individual experience. James Ryan's diary offers a fascinating glimpse into life in eighteenth-century Carrick-on-Suir, weaving together tales of global events, local happenings, and cultural experiences. Through his meticulous observations and unique recording style, Ryan provides invaluable insights into the resilience and creativity of the town’s residents, along with their national, international and global awareness during a pivotal period in Irish and world history.


Dr Bláithín Hurley is a Librarian with Waterford Library Services, in Waterford City. She is also a part-time lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Social Science at the Open University. 

Bláithín holds a PhD in History of Art from the University of Cambridge, an MA in History of Art from the University of Warwick, a BA in History of Art and Music from University College Cork, and a PG Dip. in Library Information Systems from the University of Aberystwyth. Bláithín has a broad spectrum of interests ranging from the depiction of music in sixteenth-century Venetian art to Irish art and cultural history since the sixteenth century.

Her publications include an article titled ‘Musical Instruments in the Venetian Casa: Contextualising Maria Robusti’s Self-Portrait’, published in the January 2023 issue of the journal Early Music (Oxford University Press). Following this, she authored a chapter on the Carrickman’s Diary in Brill's publication, Exciting News!, published in April 2024. Currently, she anticipates the imminent publication of a chapter she contributed to the three volume, Tomb Monuments in Medieval Europe, discussing the artistic merits of the ‘McGrath Tomb’ in St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore.


Friday, November 22, 2024

Upcoming Lecture on 29/11/2024: Death in Irish Prehistory by Prof. Gabriel Cooney



 

The Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society 2024 – 2025 lecture series continues at 8 pm on Friday, November 29th in St Patrick’s Gateway Centre, Waterford (Eircode X91 YX61) when Prof. Gabriel Cooney, will deliver a talk titled ‘Death and burial in Ireland 8000 BC – AD 400, with particular reference to southeast Ireland’. 





 

The richness of the mortuary record that survives for Irish prehistory is a highlight of the archaeological record for that eight-thousand year span of time (8000 BC- AD 400). In this lecture Gabriel will consider the changing patterns in the treatment of the dead of the earliest human generations who lived in Ireland, making particular reference to southeast Ireland, and how the evidence in this region relates to wider trends observed across the island.






 

Gabriel Cooney is emeritus professor of Celtic Archaeology, School of Archaeology, University College Dublin, where he taught generations of archaeologists currently working in Ireland and further afield. He is a member of the Royal Irish Academy. Gabriel’s research interests focus on the Neolithic period, particularly the use of stone and on mortuary practices in prehistory. He has led many research projects over the course of his career, and dircted excavations at notable prehistoric sitees. He has published the results of his research widely, his most recent book is Death in Irish Prehistory, published by the Royal Irish Academy. It was recently awarded the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) 2024 Book Prize, in their citation the EAA remarked that the book ‘is written in an engaging manner, with sensitive reflections on how the living deal with death today as well as in the past.’

 

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

September 27/ 2024 Lecture : From Napoleon to the Nazis: The Mysterious Story of Marshal Beresford’s Silver by Marcus de la Poer Beresford

 

From Napoleon to the Nazis: The Mysterious Story of Marshal Beresford’s Silver
A lecture by Marcus de la Poer Beresford to the Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society

St Patrick's Gateway
27/09/2024
8pm



William Carr Beresford was born in Waterford in 1768 and grew up in Curraghmore, before being sent to a military college in France at the age of seventeen. He made his name as a soldier in the wars against France between 1793 and 1814, rising to become a full general in the British army and Marshal and Commander in Chief of the Portuguese armed forces. As such he became the Duke of Wellington’s right-hand man in the Iberian Peninsula in the long struggle against Napoleon.

During his lifetime Marshal Beresford built up an outstanding silver collection. This story concerns the gift of a valuable portion of that silver collection for the specific use of the British Embassy in Poland, a gift made at a time when there was no such embassy and indeed Poland did not exist as an independent country. In this lecture Marcus de la Poer Beresford will address a number of questions:

•     What lay behind such an aspirational gift?

•     How was the gift used when Poland did achieve independence on the conclusion of World War I?

•     Who stole the silver during World War II?

•     Where is the silver now?

Research for this talk, and the book to which that research gave rise, would not have been possible without the collaboration with Katarzyna Krenz, a well-known Polish journalist and novelist. It was Katarzyna who obtained access to archives in Warsaw and other locations, dating back into the times of subjugation and oppression in Poland, a period in the twentieth century when Poland had once again lost its liberty and was dominated by dictatorial foreign powers.

Marcus de la Poer Beresford read history at Trinity College Dublin before qualifying as a lawyer.  He retired from legal practice in 2010 in order to return to his first love, history. Marcus’s earlier research and postgraduate thesis focused on Ireland in the eighteenth century, and the Irish diaspora in Europe. In recent years he has written and lectured extensively on the Napoleonic Wars, with particular reference to the Iberian Peninsula, and the involvement of Irishmen in those wars.

Marcus has published the results of his research widely. His books include Marshal William Carr Beresford “the ablest man I have yet seen with the army” (Irish Academic Press 2019) a Portuguese edition of which was published in November 2021. Marcus’s biography of Major General Sir Denis Pack Peninsular and Waterloo General -Sir Denis Pack and the War against Napoleon was published by Pen & Sword Books in April 2022 and has been well received in Ireland and abroad. His latest book, co-authored with Kasia Krenz, appeared in English and Polish in December 2023. From Napoleon to the Nazis, the Mysterious Story of Marshal Beresford’s Silver tells the dramatic tale of how this collection of silver came to be in Poland, from whence it was stolen in World War Two, together with its partial recovery. Recent articles include ‘The Peninsular romance of Lieutenant Waldron Kelly and Ana Ludovina de Aguilar’ in The Irish Sword (Vol.32 (2020), No 129), and ‘Marshal William Carr Beresford and the return to Portugal of the Portuguese Royal family, 1814-1830’ in Revista de Estudos Anglo-Portugueses (No 29, 2020).

Marcus is currently working on a history of the early years of the Connaught Rangers (88th regiment), an outstanding Irish regiment in the British army, and a number of other projects. Further information on Marcus’s research and publications can be found on his website www.marcusdelapoerberesford.ie.

 

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Outing to Cappoquin 11 August 2024

 The society's next summer outing will be  this coming Sunday, August 11th, to Cappoquin where we will be guided around the Historic Town by local historian Kevin McCarthy.


We'll meet at 2.30 in the public carpark adjacent to Cappoquin Community Centre, Eircode P51E2NV.



Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Outing to Ballygunner 11 July 2024

 The next Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society summer outing is on Thursday July 11th when Joe Falvey, our chairperson and well-known local historian, will lead us on a stroll around the Ballygunner and Knockboy area. We will hear about the archaeology and history of this area and hear tales of some of the personalities connected with it.


Meet at Ballygunner Church carpark at 7 pm.

All welcome. Non members €5.


Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Outing to Glenville 13 June 2024

 Join us for the first outing of 2024 for a walk and talk in the Glenville area led by chairperson Joe Falvey and PRO James Eogan  .

Meet at 7 pm at Glenville Centre car park (nearest Eircode X91 R7YV).



The Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society, Ireland.
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