From Celtic Horizon Tours : In the Footsteps of Diarmuid MacMurrough

A guided tour of Irish roots and connections to Normandy, Paris, the Loire Valley & Nantes. For detailed itinerary click here

Upcoming Event: Outing to Jerpoint Park

Our next outing will be a guided tour of Jerpoint Park, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.
Date:  Thursday 27th June 
Meet at the Grotto beside the trout farm, just before Jerpoint Abbey at 7.30pm.
Wear suitable outdoor footwear.
Entrance Fee €5. (Society members no charge. )

Granny Castle and Coach Trip 2013

Members and friends had a busy agenda to kick off the start of the summer season, first with the outing  led by Ben Murtagh to Granny Castle where members of the South Kilkenny Historical Society joined us, on June 6th.

Then on June 9th the coach trip was to Wexford, first stop Johnstown Castle Grounds & Agricultural Museum, 

and in the afternoon we met guide Monica Crofton of Wexford Walking Tours, for a tailor made tour of the town, starting at the Franciscan Friary, down Mary Street (ex Keyser Street) on to the quays, up to Selskar Abbey. Back on the coach to Barntown to visit the Church of Saint Alphonsus , a church designed by famous architect Augustus Pugin.

The day ended with a lovely meal in White's Hotel.

Find out more about Wexford History on Wexford Hub

Upcoming event: Visit to Granny Castle

Our first outing of the summer 2013 is a visit to Granny (Grannagh) Castle on the banks of the River Suir, with Mr Ben Murtagh as our guide.

Date: Thursday 6th June 2013

Time: 7.30 pm

2013 AGM of the Federation of Local History Societies

The Federation of Local History Societies is holding its AGM this week-end 24th to 26th May 2013 in Waterford City.

Members of the FLHS in the Medieval Museum
prior to a guided tour of both the Medieval and the Bishop's Palace (Photo courtesy of Pat Deegan)

WAHS is honoured to be the hosting society and a program of activities has been organised to showcase some of the gems of the city. Having heard Julian Walton recounting 1000 years of history in under 1 hour on Friday evening, members of the visiting societies were able to discover the treasures held in the new museums today (Saturday)

Lecture: The Battle Of Le Pilly by Michael Desmond

Chairman Sonny Condon, PRO Michael Maher, Lecturer Michael Desmond

The Battle of Le Pilly was a short, but deadly battle in October 1914. Le Pilly is not even a village, it was the train stop near the village of Aubers. Michael Desmond brought to us the reality of the battle, the names of the men who fought it, and the tragedy with which the 2nd Battallion of the Royal Irish met. Communication was a major problem, and they were surrounded before the order to retreat reached them.

List of casualties. The Waterford names are in blue. 

WWI Memorabilia brought by a member of the audience

Many questions were raised and answered after the lecture

From Our Neighbour: South Kilkenny Historical Society

South Kilkenny Historical Society lecture

Thursday, April 25th 2013
Topic: John Kennedy's Irish Legacy - how JFK's visit and his presidency helped change Ireland.
Speaker: Mr Noel Whelan
Venue: The Emigrant Centre, New Ross (note change of venue for this lecture)
Time: 8pm
Admission: €5 (members free)

There will also be a presentation, by Mr Patrick Grennan of the Kennedy Homestead, Dunganstown, on the Kennedys' of Dunganstown and America.

In times of crisis the eyes of the world are fixed upon 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. This is the White House the seat of important councils and the place where one man must make momentous decisions that can affect the lives of people everywhere (The White House - An Historic Guide). For four days in 1963, from June 26th to 29th, the eyes of the world moved from the White House to Ireland and in particular to New Ross, the ancestral home of that man - The President of the United States of America.