November Lecture: Mr William Fraher

The lecture on Friday night was very successful and drew a large audience, as Mr William Fraher gave a talk on the impact of the Civil War on the Big Houses of County Waterford. 

Hon Editor, Donnchadh Ó Ceallacháin presented Mr Fraher with a copy of the latest edition of Decies.

Included in the picture, l-to-r: Mr Julian Walton, Mr William Fraher, Mr Donnchadh Ó Ceallacháin, Mr Michael Maher. 

Just published: Decies 67

Decies ,the Journal of the Society, has just been published and will be available to members at the Annual Lunch on Sunday 27 November.

From Our Neighbour: South Kilkenny Historical Society :Lecture on Knockroe Passage Tomb

South Kilkenny Historical Society Lecture

Title: Knockroe passage tomb and the mysterious Stone Age of south Kilkenny

Speaker: Muiris O’Suilleabhan, Associate Professor, School of Archaeology, U.C.D.

Date: Thursday, November 24th

Time: 8pm

Venue: Mullinavat parish hall (opposite church).

Admission: €5 (members free)

Knockroe passage tomb, known locally as “The Caiseal”, is situated beside the Lingaun river at the south-western edge of County Kilkenny and is considered an archaeological site of national importance. Prior to the 1980s little was known about the site but in recent years it has come further into the limelight with a programme of excavation between 1990-1995, by the speaker (Dr O Suilleabhan).

November lecture: The War Of Independence And The Big Houses

Our next lecture will be delivered by Mr William Fraher, Curator of Waterford County Museum in Dungarvan. William has often lectured to the Society and has led a number of our summer field trips.

The topic of this month's lecture, 'The Bad Times': The War of Independence and the Big Houses in Co Waterford promises to be a fascinating one, indeed, as William's sources are unpublished original manuscripts and letters as well as newspapers and witness statements. 

Should you be in Dungarvan, don't miss the current exhibition on The Big Houses in the Museum, which can only add to the experience of the lecture. 

Date: 25 November 2011

Time: 8.00 pm

Venue: Edmund Rice Heritage Centre, Barrack Street, Waterford

Pat McCarthy's Lecture: Gun Running in Waterford

 

On 26 October last Dr Pat McCarthy, well-known military historian and member of the Society, delivered a lecture on the successful IRA gun running operation through Waterford Harbour in 1921.

Sourced in Germany, a large consignment of weapons (rifles, pistols ) and ammunition was shipped on board the Frieda, a small vessel which sailed up the harbour. The consignment was successfully unloaded and moved inland. 

This was probably the most significant importation of arms in Ireland since 1913. Although the weapons arrived in Ireland after the Truce, the episode was considered an important morale booster for the IRA asIrish representatives prepared to enter treaty negotiations with the British government.