Decade of Centenaries - Talks - Louth County Libraries

 The planned dates are:

 

• Thursday, September 5.
• Wednesday, September 11.
• Saturday, September 21.
• Thursday, October 10.

 

The participants and titles of the talks are below.

 

• Myles Dungan - The Last Land War, in Dundalk Library 

Land seizures were a major feature during the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. Free State legislation in 1923 allowed the Land Commission to compulsorily purchase landlord estates, while the Special Infantry Corps were given wide-ranging powers to clear squatters and break strikes.

 

• John Dorney - The Big House and the Irish Civil War, in Drogheda Library

The ‘Big House’ – the country mansion of the Anglo-Irish landed class - was a target of republicans throughout the Irish revolution of 1919-23. A total of 275 were burned out, blown up or destroyed.

 

• David McCullagh - “Reaching for the stars” - de Valera and America,  in Dundalk Library

America was central to the life and the career of Éamon de Valera. It wasn’t just the land of his birth. Throughout his life, the United States was incredibly important for him. It gave him the political support which helped him defeat his rivals and the financial support without which he couldn’t have fought elections or established the Irish Press.

 

• Turtle Bunbury - The Irish Diaspora, evening of Thursday, in Ardee Library.

Since 1800 an estimated 10 million people have left Irish shores. Today, more than 80 million people worldwide claim Irish descent. Turtle traces the story of the Irish abroad from the first missionaries through the seafarers, warriors and explorers of centuries past. Homing in on a variety of convicts, imperialists, emigrants, famine refugees and political activists, a picture emerges of a truly astonishing legacy that has pushed Ireland to the forefront in the present age. 

Turtle Bunbury is ‘one of Ireland’s most prolific historians’ with over 20 published books. An award-nominated podcaster, his book, The Irish Diaspora is described by BBC History Magazine as ‘impeccably researched… packed with vivid detail.’