History walk around Ferbane

Sunday May 23rd led by Local Historian Brendan Ryan. Brendan was a teacher in Ferbane for many years and is the author of two fine history works on the area - Land by the River of God and The Dear Old Town plus articles in journals. This walk will provide an opportunity to see and hear about Ferbane's hidden history.

In the past town walks have proven very popular and this promises to be a very interesting afternoon. All are welcome.

Cars to meet at Research Centre at 2 pm and Ferbane at 2.30 pm.

Please note that this outing is instead of the planned visit to Lemanaghan which had to be postponed to a future date.

Anthony Corns lecture on the Offaly Landscape

This lecture had to be postponed and a new date will be advised to you.

Books for sale

If you want a local history book it will be on sale at the Research Centre. They include:

Living under thatch a new book on Offaly thatched houses by Barry O'Reilly, which the Society was instrumental in having published under the auspices of the Offaly County Council Heritage Forum, and with a small financial contribution from the Society is now available to be purchased at €15 from local bookshops and from the Society's offices.

Farming in Ireland - History, Heritage and Environment another monumental work of 606 pages by John Feehan is available at the very good price of €70.

2003 and 2004 Journal priced €15 each or the two at €25.

Heritage Boat Association Shindig

Venue Edenderry to Tullamore on 31 May 2004
Info@heritageboatassociation.com

8th June Saving of Durrow High Cross - A Celebration

Commences at Durrow monastic site at 7 pm on 8th June, eve of the east of St. Colmcille. Welcome by Helen Bracken, Chairperson of Durrow High Cross committee, Ecumenical Service, and outline of the history of the site including High Cross and holy well..

At 9 pm there will be a reception and buffet supper followed by music in Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre.. Tickets for this are €5 and are available at the Research Centre.

Agricultural History Society of Ireland
In association with Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society

Venue: Research Centre, Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Theme: Farming in the Midlands Date: Friday 11th June -Sunday 13th 2004, in an attached leaflet are details of an exciting weekend seminar on farming in the midlands to commence on Friday the 11th of June for the weekend. The Agricultural History Society has lined up an impressive list of speakers and the seminar will be a good preliminary to the trip to Germany for those members travelling. We look forward to a good attendance at this seminar and further details of it will be available in the next newsletter.

Date: Friday 11th June -Sunday 13th 2004

**Friday 11th June 8.00 p.m.

Introductory talk by John Feehan, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science, UCD

Farming in the Midlands

**Saturday 12th June 2004

9.30-10.00 a.m. Conor Mc Dermot, Irish Archaeological Wetlands Unit, UCD Prehistoric Farming in the Midlands

10. 00 -10.30 a.m. Aidan O' Sullivan, Archaeology Department, U.C.D.: Early medieval agriculture in the Midlands: Evidence from Crannogs


10.30-11.00 a.m. Matthew Stout, St Patrick's College, Drumcondra:
Early medieval agriculture in the Midlands: Evidence from Ringforts

Coffee

11.30-12.00 p.m. Mark Hennessy, Geography Department, T.C.D: Agriculture in High Medieval Ireland with special reference to County Tipperary

12.00-12.30 p.m. Grainne Breen, Allied Irish Banks
Agriculture on the 19th century estates in County Offaly

12.30- 1.00 p.m. Tim O'Neill, History Department, UCD
From the Famine to the Land Acts: Land reform in Ireland

Lunch

2.00 p.m-6.pm. Saturday Afternoon: Field trip

8.00 p.m Conference Buffet Dinner: The Durrow Room, Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore

**Sunday 13th June 2004

10.00-10.30 a.m. Liam Kennedy, History Department, Queens University , Belfast

The Peoples Fuel: Turf in the Irish Economy since 1800

10.30 -11.00 a.m Seamus Mc Philib National Museum of Ireland
:
Farm and Folklife in the Midlands

Coffee

11-11:30 Paul Rouse RTE:

Government and Agriculture in Ireland after World War II with special reference to the Midlands

12.00 -12.30 Michael Byrne, Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society: Agriculture and industry in the environs of Tullamore in the Eighteenth-century

The afternoon

A walk around Tullamore led by Michael Byrne, Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society

Slán abhaile

Membership renewals

While most members have already renewed their 2004 membership, a small number still remains outstanding. Could we ask the remainder to pay as soon as possible. Look at the label on your envelope if in doubt. If it shows 2003 it's overdue.

The late Anne Dunne

It is with deep regret that we learn of the untimely death of Anne Dunne. Anne was a longstanding member of the Historical Society, close on thirty years. In addition she supported every event which the Society organised, including outings, lectures, book launches, etc. Always a regular visitor to the Research Centre, she liked to keep herself informed of developments there. She is remembered for her friendly disposition on outings and she always got acquainted with her fellow members. The Society would like to extend its sincerest sympathy to her sister, family and her many friends.

Schools CD ROMs

The work on the CD ROMs for schools is now nearing completion. A lot of work has gone into their preparation including photographs and text.

Best Wishes

Staff members Dorothee Bibby and Helen Flanagan who had been working with us for some time on the CE programme have recently moved on to greater things. We wish them both the very best in their new careers and no doubt they will do very well.