Series of history talks in Laois throughout July
The first in the services of talks will look at the history of soccer in Portlaoise
A SERIES of history talks is taking place every Wednesday night in July at 7pm in Portlaoise Library.
The series will cover a broad range of history topics from the genesis of soccer in Portlaoise to in depth investigations into the fatalities of World War I and the Irish Civil War.
The first of the talks takes place on 2 July with James Bennett’s presentation on the ‘Association Football in Maryborough/ Portlaoise from 1905 to 1965’. It looks at the development of soccer in the town from its first reported public game between students from the local CBS school against players from the 4th Battalion Leinster Regiment in 1905 to 1965, the year before the formal foundation of Portlaoise AFC.
The following Wednesday 9 July David Broderick will relate the story of the disappearing workhouse master Henry Ogle, who absconded from Portumna Workhouse in 1864. This is an almost unbelievable tale of fraud, deceit, escape to New York, and twelfth-hour retribution, a case where fact is more fascinating than fiction.
On Wednesday 16 July, John Dorney will share the findings of the ‘Irish Civil War Fatalities Project’, the first comprehensive survey of civilian and combatant fatalities, allowing for a wide-ranging, sometimes surprising, analysis of the nature and geographic distribution of the casualties and their impact.
Cormac Moore’s talk on the ‘Irish Revolution in Laois,’ takes place on 23 July. It will look at the transformation of life in the county during the period 1912-1923, moving beyond an examination of the Irish Revolution solely through the prism of political violence.
The final in the series is on Wednesday 30 July, entitled: ‘Remembering Our WWI War Dead’. Tom Burnell will introduce his ‘Irish Great War Dead Archive’, the culmination of 20 years of research and collaboration.
