All posts by Richard

Our February meeting is now on our YouTube Channel

The meeting held on Wednesday, 9th February at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom is now available on our YouTube channel

The speaker was Dr Andrew Newby, who delivered his talk from Finland. 

Dr Newby is Senior Lecturer in Transnational and Comparative History at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. His research covers a wide range of topics relating to Europe in the “Long Nineteenth Century”, particularly in relation to land reform, famine and aspects of nationalism and national / regional identity. 

This time, he will be discussing the Irish and Finnish famines.

Follow the link to view the video: https://youtu.be/E5n6g9BC65o

April Meeting is now available on our YouTube channel

The meeting took place on Wednesday, 13th April at 7:00pm on Zoom and was recorded.

You can view the recording by following the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwoHBlpHHL8

The speaker was the Irish author and historian Dr Barbara Walsh, who discussed the role Irish servicewomen in World War One.

Her talk was based on her recently published Irish servicewomen in the Great War: from Western Front to Roaring Twenties (2020).

Previous publications include: Roman Catholic Nuns in England and Wales 1800-1937 (2002); Forgotten Aviator: Hubert Latham a High Flying Gentleman (2007); and When the Shopping Was Good: Woolworth and the Irish Main Street (2010).

You can find out more at: http://hubertlatham.com/barbara-walsh/

March Meeting

This month’s meeting will take place in Armagh County Museum at 7pm. It will start with our Annual General Meeting.

The AGM will be followed by a talk at 7:30pm. Our speaker this month is Fiona Byrne, Curator of History at the Ulster Folk Museum (National Museums NI). Fiona has been working in museums for over 15 years, focusing mainly on the Decade of Centenaries collections, especially World War One and 1916 material. More recently, she has been working on the Irish Folk Life collections and this continues to be her main focus and area of research. She has taken a particular interest in straw work collections, such as St. Brigid’s crosses. She will be discussing St. Brigid, objects and customs associated with her and why she still has such a strong following today.

February Meeting

Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 9th February at 7:00 p.m.

It will be online via Zoom as our speaker this month is Dr Andrew Newby, who will be delivering his talk from Finland. 

Dr Newby is Senior Lecturer in Transnational and Comparative History at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. His research covers a wide range of topics relating to Europe in the “Long Nineteenth Century”, particularly in relation to land reform, famine and aspects of nationalism and national / regional identity. 

You will remember Andrew from last April, when he delivered a talk on Joseph Fisher, Finland and the Ulster question. This time, he will be discussing the Irish and Finnish famines:

“This Terrible Visitation”: Contrasting the Great Hunger Years of Ireland and Finland.

January Meeting

For this month ‘s meeting we are returning to Zoom because of the current Covid situation. Our speaker this month will be one of our own members, Sean Barden will be talking about some of the street names that have disappeared over the years. The talk is entitled “The Search for Saltbox Court, Armagh’s small streets.”

The talk will be a week later than normal and will be held on Wednesday. 19th January at 7:00 p.m.

If you wish to take part in the meeting on Zoom please contact Catherine Gartland: e-mail secretary@history-armagh.org

Our 2021 History Armagh Magazine is now available

History Armagh 2021

Now available for sale in our usual outlets in Armagh at the usual price of £3.50. Members can collect their copy from Armagh County Museum. The contents of the magazine are listed below as usual many of the articles relate to the City but a number take a look back at what was happening around 100 years ago in the border areas as well as in the City.

September Meeting

Next week, we will be resuming our monthly activities with a talk in our new venue: Armagh Observatory.

It will take place on Wednesday 8 September in the Observatory library at 7:30pm.

Our speaker this month will be member Gerry Oates, who will be discussing ‘Celibacy in the Church in the late Middle Ages’.

Because Covid restrictions still apply and to ensure the safety and peace of mind of all, we will be taking appropriate measures, as follows:

Names and contact numbers will be recorded for all attendees.

Once inside the building, all attendees must wear masks (unless exempt).

Chairs will be laid out one metre apart. Members of the same household may sit closer together, but must be one metre away from other attendees. This means that we will have limited capacity and once the room is filled, then no further admission. For this reason and until further notice, the meeting will be for members only.

Attendees to remain seated.

To maintain fresh airflow, doors will be kept open, so dress up warmly.

Unfortunately there can be no tea/coffee.

At the end of the talk, our Chairperson will direct an orderly exit (row by row).

Finally, we would prefer that only those who are double-vaccinated attend.

I hope that you will understand the reasons behind these precautions and that everyone will feel comfortable on the night.

If you are unfamiliar with access to the Observatory, please note that there are two carparks. Less able visitors can park at the top of the hill next to the main building. The other carpark is signposted as you make your way from the Mall entrance.