Our next monthly meeting will take place on Wednesday, 11th February at 7:00pm in the Observatory Library. Our speaker this month is Sean Hayes from the Public Record Office for Northern Ireland (PRONI), who will be discussing:

Now We’re Talking: An Exploration of the Archive of Michael J. Murphy

The talk will showcase the unique and rich archival collection left by folklorist, writer, and broadcaster Michael J. Murphy (1913-1996). A native of Dromintee in South Armagh, Murphy amassed a large collection of stories, phrases, and customs from across Ulster which informed much of his creative writing. This archive alongside that of his friend and collaborator, Sam Hanna Bell, are being made available to the public thanks to the Now We’re Talking project. The project is funded by an Archives Revealed consortium grant and is led by PRONI and The Nerve Centre and is supported by Cuimhneamh, The National Folklore Collection, BBC NI, and NI Screen.

You can find out more about the project on the Nerve Centre website at Now We’re Talking

For those of you who are new to the group, this map shows how to access the library at the Observatory.

Wishing you all a healthy, happy and peaceful New Year

Our next monthly meeting will take place on Wednesday 14th January at 7:00 pm in the Observatory Library.

Our speaker this month is one of our own members, Gerry Oates, who will be discussing:

‘Irish female names from pre-Christian times to present day’.

For those of you who are new to the group, follow this Link to the map which shows how to access the library from the front of the Observatory.

 We will be launching of the 2026 edition of our magazine History Armagh on Wednesday, 17th December in Armagh County Museum at 7:00 pm.

Copies of the magazine are now in the usual outlets. Members will be able to collect their free copy on the night and to purchase additional copies if they wish.

If you are unable to attend, you will still be able to get your free copy by calling at the Museum shop after this date.

Our next monthly meeting will take place on Wednesday, 12th November at 7:00 pm in the Observatory Library.

This month’s meeting will be a workshop/discussion on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Local History research. Sean will share a few examples. If you have used AI for research before, we would love you hear of your experiences and you are welcome to share any examples you may have.

I hope you will be able to attend.

Please be aware that the Observatory carpark will be in use for a different event that night so please use the Planetarium carpark accessed from College Street.

Our October meeting will take place on Wednesday, 9th October at 7:00pm in the Observatory Library.

Our speaker this month is Brónagh McAtarsney from the Digital Film Archive, who will be screening films about and discussing folklore in the North of Ireland.

You can explore more at the Digital Film Archives website: https://digitalfilmarchive.net/index

Our next monthly meeting will take place at 7:30pm on 11th June in the Observatory Library. Our speaker this month is Dr Dónal McAnallen, who will be giving the second instalmentt of his talk begun last month, This second instalment will account for the remainder of the period from ‘Black ’47’ up to 1852..

Causes and effects of the Great Famine on the Powerscourt estate (Benburb-Eglish-Moy district)

This talk will shed new light on the causes and traumatic effects of the Great Famine on the Powerscourt Estate, County Tyrone, which comprised much of Clonfeacle civil parish – with Benburb as its headquarters, and stretching from the outskirts of the Moy to present-day Eglish village and the edge of the Brantry.

Based on fresh research of estate records, this talk will analyse the profound agrarian and sectarian tensions in the years preceding 1845. It will outline personal stories of hunger and want among the populace, and the response of officials of the estate, then overseen by the Earl of Roden, as well as local famine relief bodies. Comparisons will also be made with neighbouring estates, such as Charlemont and Caledon.

Please note that this month’s talk will start at the later time of 7:30pm.

Our next monthly meeting will take place at 7:30pm in the Observatory Library. Our speaker this month is Dr Dónal McAnallen, who will be discussing:

Causes and effects of the Great Famine on the Powerscourt estate (Benburb-Eglish-Moy district)

This talk will shed new light on the causes and traumatic effects of the Great Famine on the Powerscourt Estate, County Tyrone, which comprised much of Clonfeacle civil parish – with Benburb as its headquarters, and stretching from the outskirts of the Moy to present-day Eglish village and the edge of the Brantry.

Based on fresh research of estate records, this talk will analyse the profound agrarian and sectarian tensions in the years preceding 1845. It will outline personal stories of hunger and want among the populace, and the response of officials of the estate, then overseen by the Earl of Roden, as well as local famine relief bodies. Comparisons will also be made with neighbouring estates, such as Charlemont and Caledon.

This talk will cover the period up to ‘Black ‘47’. The second instalment, to follow on 11th June, will account for the remainder of the period up to 1852.

Please note that this month’s talk will start at the later time of 7:30pm.

Our next monthly meeting will take place on Wednesday, 9th April at 7:00 pm in the Observatory Library. Our speaker this month is Dr Greer Ramsey, who will be discussing

Treasure : Archaeology and the Coroner’s Court

‘Treasure’ items include some of the most significant artefacts on display in the Ulster Museum, ranging from Bronze Age gold jewellery to Viking silver – but what happens if I find ‘treasure’? Illustrated by an intriguing array of Treasure objects, this talk explores the treasure process and the 1996 Treasure Act.

Dr Greer Ramsey is Curator of Archaeology at National Museums NI and has played a key role over the years in dealing with treasure items. Greer graduated in Archaeology from QUB both at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Our next monthly meeting will takie place on Wednesday, 12th March at 7:00 pm in the Observatory Library.

Our speaker this month is History Group Member Rev. Gregory Dunstan, who will be discussing:

To Alleviate their Poverty and Protect their Faith’: The Early Years of the Armagh Protestant Orphan Society, 1867-1879.