5/30/2014

Bank Holiday Weekend - What's On

Old Drogheda Society

What’s On in the area for Bank Holiday Weekend


 

Thursday May 29th

Boyne Walking Festival –Drogheda Steps Challenge

Meet at Hanratty’s, Scarlet Street, 7pm

Flavours of the Boyne Valley – Scholars Hotel


An Evening celebrating local food in Conjunction with the Boyne Valley Food Series 

Table Quiz in McHugh’s The Venue


In aid if Global Brigades Ireland 9pm

 

Friday May 30th

Boyne Walking Festival – Boyne Greenway Walk

Meet at St Dominics Park,6pm

SSC Airtricity League of Ireland – Drogheda Utd v Limerick


United Park 7.45pm

 

Saturday May 31st

Boyne Walking Festival – Boyne to Coast Walk

Register at St Fechin’s GAA Club, Beaulieu at 9.30am

East of Ireland Amateur Golf Open Championships Day 1


County Louth Golf Club, Baltray

Lunchtime Concert in the Tholsel


Violin Duo, Tadhg Murphy & Istvan Brnacz 1.15pm

Kids Kast The Rhythm of the Night


TLT Theatre, Drogheda 7pm    

 

Sunday June 1st


Boyne Walking Festival – New Mellifont Loop Walk

Register at Collon Community Hall at 10am

East of Ireland Amateur Golf Open Championships Day 2


County Louth Golf Club, Baltray

Living History Demonstrations


Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre, Oldbridge 11am – 4.45pm

Open Day in Listoke Gardens


In aid of Clogherhead Lifeboat Service 1pm –5pm

Kids Kast The Rhythm of the Night


TLT Theatre, Drogheda 7pm    

 

Monday June 2nd


East of Ireland Amateur Golf Open Championships Finals


County Louth Golf Club, Baltray

Country Music Night with Declan Nerney


Ardboyne Hotel, Navan 9pm

 

Please note that there is NO Living History Demonstration in Oldbridge on Saturday and the D Day Festival at the new Irish Military War Museum in Starinagh, Collon has been postponed until later this year.

 

 There are late bar extensions until 2am on Saturday and Sunday for details of what's happening in the local pubs see


 

 Full `details on www.drogheda.ie    Drogheda Tourist Office is open Friday 30th, Saturday 31st and Monday Jine 2nd 9.30am - 5.30pm

 

Drogheda Museum Millmount is open Saturday 9.30am - 5.30pm and on Sunday and Monday 2pm - 5pm ( Last Tours 60 minutes before closing)  

 


Old Drogheda Society - History, Archaeology & Heritage

Millmount, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland. Tel. 041-9833097

Walking Today


Old Drogheda Society


Today, Friday 30th May @1pm Trim Town Walk: Lunchtime Walk around the most historic town in County Meath led by Historian Noel French Taking in the breathtaking views of the historic Trim Castle. Meet at Trim Tourist Office Castle Street Trim County Meath at 1pm Sharp. Duration 1 hour - No Charge. Boyne Valley Walking Event - see here.


Today, Friday 30th May @6:30pm Boyne Greenway celebrating the opening of the Boyne Greenway. This 10k looped walk starts & finishes in Drogheda. Register at Dominic’s Park The Ramparts Drogheda at 6pm Walk begins 6.30pm. €5 Donation to The Gary Kelly Centre appreciated. Boyne Valley Walking Event - see here.


Old Drogheda Society - History, Archaeology & Heritage, Millmount, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland. Tel. 041-9833097

5/29/2014

Soldier to Settler

Old Drogheda Society



New Zealand author, Donald Offwood's, latest book Soldier to Settler, published by The Caxton Press, is  based loosely on the life and times of his great great grandfather, Patrick Murtagh, from Carrickbaggot near Drogheda, and it contains many mentions of life in the Drogheda area during the Famine period including, Richmond Fort at Millmount,  Grendon's Founfry, Cairnes Brewery, Drogheda Gas Works, Drogheda Chemical Manure Company, Drogheda Steampacket Company and the Linen Hall, all feature. It also covers various events in the town's history including Oliver Cromwell's sacking of Drogheda, the Battle of the Boyne, the building of the barracks at Miillmount and the arrival of three Ottoman Empire ships in 1847.

This dramatized  novel follows Patrick Murtagh, who as a poor Irish boy joins the British Army in 1820. After serving in India, he is discharged into the famines of the 1940s in search of work in Drogheda.

As a man of 'good character' he is able escape the famine to re-join the Army in 1847 and come to New Zealand with his family and with the offer of his own cottage and schooling for his children, as a Fencible Corp soldier. In exchange for guarding Auckland for seven years and for the first time in his life he will own something he cannot carry - his own land.

After seven years service he is discharged and in 1860 moves south to Green Island, Dunedin, with his family, to buy his own small farm and become an Otago Pionee

The  author Donald Offwood, who has published 12 books, researched the subject by travelling to Drogheda where he sought  the assistance of Drogheda Musem Millmount and Clogherhead historian James Stanley.




Old Drogheda Society - History, Archaeology & Heritage

Millmount, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland. Tel. 041-9833097

5/28/2014

Don't Talk the Talk: Walk the Walk.

 
 
Old Drogheda Society



This weekend the 4th Boyne Valley Walking Festival kicks off this with the Drogheda Steps Challenge. This is the first time an organised group walk takes on this very challenging walk which takes in all of Drogheda's flights of steps, old and new.
.
This year there are 5 walks, with something for everyone.including walks on Saturday and Sunday with special once off permission from the various landowners


Walking Programme

Thursday 29th May:
Drogheda Steps Challenge in aid of St John’s Ambulance. This challenging walk is not for the faint hearted. 1200 steps over 10km around the town.


Register at 7pm at Tommy Hanrattys, Scarlet St , Drogheda.
€5 donation appreciated.


Friday 30th May: Trim Town Walk 2km. Local guide Noel French leads a lunchtime walk around Meath’s most historic town. Meet 1pm sharp at Trim Tourist office Castle St.
No charge.


Friday 30th May: Get the Family out and walk the new Boyne Greenway in aid of Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre. 10km. Meet at St Dominic’s Park , Drogheda at 6pm.
€5 donation appreciated.

Saturday 31st May:  Boyne to Coast, in conjunction with Ramblers Country Tracks. The longest walk at over 18km. This is the premier walk, mainly off road .Special once off permission to walk a very scenic area .Register at St Fechins GAA club, Beaulieu at 9.30am. €15 includes refreshments.

Sunday 1st June: New Mellifont. This walk is a 14km loop on the Cistercian Monks estate at Collon. Check out the huge variety of trees at this mainly woodland walk. Register at Collon Community Hall at 10 am. Special once off permission in a very peaceful location.

€20 for combined Sat & Sun Ticket

Booking at Drogheda Tourist Office, West St Drogheda, 041 9872843. More details are available on Facebook Boyne Valley Walking.



Old Drogheda Society - History, Archaeology & Heritage

Millmount, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland. Tel. 041-9833097

5/27/2014

The Uses of Photography in Ireland, 1839-1900


Old Drogheda Society






Event: The Uses of Photography in Ireland, 1839-1900

Date: Wednesday 28th May

Venue: Town Hall, Balbriggan.

Time: 8pm

Speaker: Dr. Peader Slattery, whose family have run the renowned Slattery's photographic shop on Upper O'Connell St. for many years.

Host: Balbriggan & District Historical Society.








Old Drogheda Society - History, Archaeology & Heritage

Millmount, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland. Tel. 041-9833097

5/26/2014

Echoes of 1916


Old Drogheda Society


Declan Mallon from Upstate Theatre Company announces a new history project.


Echoes of 1916 Introductory Workshops



History is often, and necessarily, mediated to us. Someone writes that history choosing what we need to know and what we don’t. Only through personal intervention can we prevent our individual histories being lost. But where do we start?

Echoes of 1916 is attempting to create, in Louth, a large community action research project which seeks to empower individuals, young and old, to research their own personal background and try to find out where their own ancestors may have been in 1916. The project is inclusive and is not tied to the 1916 Rising in Ireland or indeed to being Irish. It may well be that your roots extend as far away as Africa, Europe or other parts of the world and these histories are equally as valid in the context of this project.


The project is delivered by Upstate Theatre Project in conjunction with Drogheda Local Voices.


This is a Major Community Research Project


Week 1 Workshop : A strange Kind of Glory - 1916 in County Louth

With Conor McNamara

Begins Wednesday 28th May

7.30pm Barlow House

Booking Tel: 041 9844227 Email: dmallon@upstate.ie

NOT JUST A HISTORY PROJECT


The project is free of charge

Who should get involved?

Anyone who cares to begin to research their family history and lend their research to the project for artistic interpretation further down the line.

What is happning?

The initial workshops are designed from a historical research perspective (the art comes later in the project). Local historian Brendan Matthews and Conor McNamara of Notre Dame University will deliver the series giving background to the era and tips on how to begin to research. The intention is to first interest people in the idea of research and secondly to empower individuals to begin to research their own family histories by illustrating the initial stages of genealogical research particular to the period in question. There will also be online support.

How?

People can join by emailing dmallon@upstate.ie - or by phoning the company at 041 9844227 and providing email address





Old Drogheda Society - History, Archaeology & Heritage

Millmount, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland. Tel. 041-9833097

5/22/2014

The Hill of Ward


Old Drogheda Society



Registration: 10.30am

Talk: Saturday 24 May 2014

Time:  2.30pm

Title:  Hill of Ward: from earliest times to the present day.

Speaker: Dr Steve Davis (Dept of Archaeology, UCD).

Venue: Ráth Chairn Community Hall.

Post-event:- Walkabout on the Hill (shuttle bus to Hill) and light refreshments in the hall courtesy of Comharcumann Ráth Chairn.

Hosts: Meath Archaeological and Historical Society in association with Comharcumann Ráth Chairn.
    


Drogheda Museum
Millmount Governor's House,
Millmount,
Drogheda
0419833097

5/19/2014

Last of the Headforts



Old Drogheda Society


Lecture/Talk: Thursday 22nd May @ 8pm: The last of the Headforts - the decline of the Big House.

Speaker: Joe Mooney. 

Venue: Columbanus House, Canon Row, Navan. 

Hosts: Navan and District Historical Society. See here.  



Drogheda Museum
Millmount Governor's House,
Millmount,
Drogheda
0419833097

5/17/2014

Collon House Garden Party

Old Drogheda Society
 

Today Saturday 17th May from 2 to 5pm: Garden Party organised by Friends of Collon Church at Collon House to raise funds for urgent repair to the roof of Collon Church of Ireland Church. Admission €15. Children free. 

Events include Ardee Concert Band, Stalls, Children's events, Tours of village and historic church designed by Beaufort. Details from john.h.rountree@gmail.com



Drogheda Museum
Millmount Governor's House,
Millmount,
Drogheda
0419833097

5/15/2014

Of Other Days


Old Drogheda Society
 
 
Tonight: Thursday 15th May @ 7pm - Book launch Of Other Days by Anthony Holten.

Meath County Library and Navan & District Historical Society invite you to a reception to celebrate the book launch at County Library Railway Street Navan.

The book is an account of a rural childhood spent in post-World War II Ireland during the 1940's and 1950's.

Portrayed against the backdrop of Tara, Navan, and The Boyne Valley, the author relates his recollections of growing up in County Meath, Ireland during an age of relative innocence and simplicity.

Comprised of 85 tales of varying lengths, the many different aspects of life in the Irish countryside during these years are explored in detail, reflecting an Ireland which now, just over half a century later in the new millennium, has well and truly vanished.



Drogheda Museum
Millmount Governor's House,
Millmount,
Drogheda
0419833097

5/13/2014

Dean Jonathan Swift and his times

Old Drogheda Society





Tomorrow: Wednesday 14th May @8.30pm - Virginia and District Historical Society Launch by Dr. Maeve Martin.

Lecture to follow on Dean Jonathan Swift and his times, with reference to his connection with Quilca near Virginia.

Lecturer: Jack Johnston, historian, Clogher, Co. Tyrone.

Venue: Riverfront Hotel, Virginia.



Drogheda Museum
Millmount Governor's House,
Millmount,
Drogheda
0419833097

5/12/2014

Echoes of 1916


Old Drogheda Society




Upstate Theatre Project in conjunction with Drogheda Local Voices Oral History Project will launch a new project Echoes of 1916 on Thursday next, May 15th in the Governor's House, Millmount at 8pm.

The Echoes programme will initiate a community research project to investigate the whereabouts of people’s ancestors in 1916. It is hoped that this open-ended question will result in the exploration of a variety of family histories and in turn present a broad portrait of the community in 1916. As well as people with ancestors in Ireland during 1916, it is also hoped that new communities in Drogheda will join the programme and present their own personal histories from the period, no matter which country they hail from.

The project will host a number of local experts, historian Brendan Matthews and Sean Corcoran of Drogheda Museum Millmount and Drogheda Local Voices, alongside Notre Dame’s Conor McNamara and Upstate Theatre Project’s Chairman, Dr. Matthew Stout. While the initial phase of the project will have a distinctly historical research edge, Upstate will later work to develop the material using the latest mobile technology, turning it into an artistic experience.

What happened in Ireland between 1912 and 1922 happened in a global context, a period that was a very turbulent time in human history. Through this project we hope to begin to uncover this period of commemoration and explore the humanity of our shared histories.

The launch night on May 15th is an opportunity for people to learn more about the project and register for future workshops in the programme. The programme will be intergenerational in nature, and everyone from 15 to 115 is welcome to take part. Thanks to the PEACE III Programme, participation will be free, and no experience is necessary – just commitment and interest!

This project is delivered by Upstate Theatre Project and is supported by the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund, through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation PEACE III Programme manage



Drogheda Museum
Millmount Governor's House,
Millmount,
Drogheda
0419833097



5/09/2014

St Oliver Plunkett: His Life and Times.



Old Drogheda Society



Tonight: Friday 9th May @8.30pm as part of the Gilson Summer School there will be a talk on St Oliver Plunkett: His Life and Times.

Speaker: Brendan Holland. 

Venue: the Gilson National School, Church St, Oldcastle.


Drogheda Museum
Millmount Governor's House,
Millmount,
Drogheda
0419833097


5/08/2014

2014 Gilson Summer School


Old Drogheda Society



Weekend of May 9th and 10th - The 2014 Gilson Summer School (Oldcastle). 

Among the events already planned is a Symposium on the teaching of philosophy in Irish Primary Schools. The symposium will included a paper from a staff member of a school in Co. Cavan that has integrated Thinking Time into their 3rd and 4th classes’ curriculum. 

If you would like more information see here



Drogheda Museum
Millmount Governor's House,
Millmount,
Drogheda
0419833097



5/02/2014

Julianstown Youth Orchestra & Jennifer Murphy Play the Barbican




Old Drogheda Society




The JYO are performing in the Barbican Centre, Drogheda on Saturday 03 May at 5pm as part of the Drogheda Arts Festival.

The JYO will be joined on the day by guest soloist, Jennifer Murphy. Jennifer is a rising young violinist currently a scholarship student at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the JYO are delighted that she is travelling from London to take part in the concert.

Formed in 2011 the Julianstown Youth Orchestra includes players from Louth, Meath and Dublin and has fast become one of the biggest youth orchestras in Ireland with over 100 members playing a wide range of instruments.

Led by leading conductor, Fergus Sheil and run by a committed team of parents, this progressive orchestra has had the wonderful opportunity of working with composer Brian Irvine, received mentorship from the RTE Symphony and Concert Orchestras and performed with international violinist Tasmin Little. They have performed in the National Concert Hall and the Convention Centre Dublin and won an award at the IAYO Festival in 2013


Tickets to the concert cost 10 euro for adults and children are free. They can be purchased at the door.


Drogheda Museum
Millmount Governor's House,
Millmount,
Drogheda
0419833097