Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society Newsletter - November 2007

OFFALY HISTORICAL & ARCHAEOLOGICAL

SOCIETY

Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Web site: www.offalyhistory.com  Email: ohas@iol.ie     Telephone: 057-9321421                                                             

     NEWSLETTER November - December 2007

26 November T W Rolleston by Dr Maria O’BrienThe story of this literary life of a man born at Glasshouse, Shinrone by Dr O’Brien who is a native of Ferbane
Thomas William Rolleston (1857-1920): ‘An educated Englishman who thinks he is an Irishman’Thomas William Rolleston (1857-1920), a native of Shinrone, Co. Offaly, was an Irish Protestant who was active in different spheres of Irish life, namely politics, culture and economics. He has, as one observer has remarked, been strangely underestimated in Ireland since his death in 1920; he is primarily remembered as a poet and as one of the co-founders of the Irish Literary Society, London with W.B. Yeats.  Rolleston, like a small minority of southern Protestants, supported home rule within an Imperial context. Furthermore like Yeats and others, he was keen to avoid a singular vision of Irishness and instead was keen to embrace a more pluralistic and complicated construction of what it meant to be Irish. The talk will provide an overview of Rolleston’s life including his family origins in Offaly; his role and contribution to the literary and Gaelic revival, the co-operative movement and his political activities.

2/4^th November 2007 Roscrea Autunn Conference on aspects of Irish Books and Irish Book People down the ages.  Details from Mount St. Joseph 0505 21711.

Current research in Offaly natural history14^th November 2007 will see a lecture hosted at OHAS by the Offaly Naturalist Field Club and the subject will be current research to consist of three twenty minute papers and discussion and to commence at 8.30p.m. The talk will be chaired by John Feehan.

On Wednesday 14 November 2007 in the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society premises at Bury Quay, Tullamore - there will be an evening for the Offaly Naturalists Field Club at 8.30pm.Three research papers will be presented and this will be chaired by John Feehan of UCD and Birr.

*   Tufa Spring research in Offaly 2007 - Stephen Heery, Ecologist

*  Establishing a baseline for biodiversity on farms in Offaly -

Helen Sheridan, UCD

*  Grassland Survey of Offaly Mairead Gabbett, BEC Consultants

for NPWS

 Christmas Draw 2007

A card of tickets for our Christmas draw is enclosed with local newsletters.  We would be grateful if everyone could contribute to the draw as generously as possible.  It has been a great success every year. 

2 December 2007  Annual Christmas lunch

Annual Christmas lunch at Bridge House Tullamore, Guest Speaker is Paul Gibson.  Mr. Gibson has lately published a very handsome book on the heritage landscape for County Offaly and other Midland counties and his talk which will be held after the lunch.  More details in November.

Prices and booking  The price of the lunch is €26.50 and booking with the Society in advance is recommended. Phone 057 9321421.

 Book Launch

The Rahan Boys and the Killoughy Barracks Affray by Marie Smith is an account of the legendary police ambush at Killoughy RIC Barracks in an attempt to stop Rahan farmers from removing cattle and crops from land near Clonaslee on 14th October 1849.  The book will be launched in St. Carthage’s Hall, Rahan by Sr. Oliver on Friday 7th  Dec. @ 8.30 pm followed by refreshments.  You are very welcome along.  Marie is a member of staff at the OHAS Research Centre and is to be congratulated on her undertaking the publication.

Books as Christmas presents.  Why not support the Society and give an intelligent present without the tinsel this Christmas.  Attached is a list of material available and we have lots more too numerous to list here.  Call 05793 21421 or email your order.

 New Local History Publications for sale at the Centre, some suggestions for Christmas presents

 The Jesuits of Tullabeg,  by Fr. Laheen S.J. This handsome book is now available for purchase at the Research Centre and is hard back book of circa 100 pages and is available for €20. 

Ciaran Reilly of Edenderry has published a book entitled  Edenderry, County Offaly and the Downshire estate, 1790-1800.  

Paul Gibson’s book entitled Heritage Landscape of the Irish Midlands is available for purchase at €20 at the centre. Other publications for sale can be viewed on our internet site www.offalyhistory.com.

Shinrone History GroupAn interest in local heritage is taking place now in southwest Offaly, in the small village of Shinrone, where a heritage group has been formed, simply called Shinrone Heritage Group. Initiated by Steve O'Donohue through West Offaly Partnership in Banagher, the group has now met twice with County Heritage Officer Amanda Pedlow, and several locations of historic interest were discussed. Plans are now well underway for an information board to be placed at the site of the 7th century monastic site, Kilcumín (Kilcomin), just 2 km from Shinrone village. Different members of the group contributed to the research needed for the board, which should be erected in early 2008. The group members are Reid Armitage, Joe Cleary, Michael Egan, Billy Feighery, Mary-Jane Fox, Noel MacMahon, and Marguerite Walsh. Other interested parties are welcome to join!

Tullamore Workhouse publication Congratulations to Michael Murphy on the publication of his latest book Tullamore Workhouse the first decade 1842-1852.  Copies are available at the Centre at €20.

18^th February 2008

Darrell Hooper  on Pre Christian Offaly