The Aughrim Remembered Summer School will take place from Friday July 18 to Sunday July 20 with plenty of entertaining and informative events planned for this year’s theme of ‘From the Battle of Aughrim to World War 1’.
The weekend event will begin on Friday July 18 at 7pm in St Catherine’s Hall, Aughrim, Ballinasloe, with the local choir who will sing a selection of World War 1 songs. This will be followed by a series of talks entitled World War 1: some local connections. The first talk will be by Joe Loughnane and Colman Shaughnessy who will talk about The Connaught Rangers and World War 1. This will be followed by two short talks by locals Helen Mannion and Kevin Goode who will talk about their families’ involvement in the Great War. This will be followed by a two act play, entitled March Away My Brothers, written and performed by Brendan MacQuaile.
On Saturday July 19 in St Catherine’s Hall, a full day of lectures will be held, the theme of which is Aughrim Remembered: Military History Perspectives. Dr Joe Mannion will give a talk on Aughrim, the O’Kellys, and Hy Many, 1541-1601: English Expansion in a Gaelic Lordship. This will be followed by a joint lecture by Dr William P Kelly and Dr Andrew Robinson, on Lundy and Luttrell: traitors compared. Ms Ester Barrett will give a talk on the Painting the Williamite War (cavalry ), and Dr Nollaig Ó Muraíle will discuss Seamus dall Mac Cuarta’s Tuireamh Somhairle Mic Domhnaill. Mr Seán Ó Brogáin will then speak on Painting the Williamite War (infantry ), and archeologist Dr Paul Naessens will speak on Where are the Bodies Buried? Battlefield Archaeology and Geophysical surveying at Kilconnell. The last word of the day will be from NUI Galway history lecturer Dr Padraig Lenihan who will deal with questions and discussion.
Aughrim Heritage Park will be the site of living heritage displays and presentations all day Saturday July 19 and Sunday July 20. Oireas historical services in association with Claíomh, North Irish Dragoons, and Sir Richard Ingoldsby Rgt will be be holding displays in The Green in Aughrim village showing aspects of the various periods of the Irish military diaspora heritage. They will also be on hand to provide an expert knowledge on the Battle of Aughrim and the pre and post Williamitewar. They will provide talks and displays of weapons tactics, uniforms, flags, and the battle.
Saturday evening dinner, called Bully Beef and Biscuits, will take place at Valerie’s in Aughrim at 7pm and will be followed by the speech In Flanders Fields: A personal journey, by Joe Loughnane. Contact Valerie Seale on 090 9673734/086 2830673 or email [email protected] to book.
The Battle of Aughrim Visitor Centre will be open to the public all weekend. On Friday at 1pm Carmel Duff of Athlone Castle will give a free talk entitled The Siege of Athlone and Connections with Aughrim which will be followed by a light lunch. On Sunday 20 at 2pm there will be a free puppet show called The Little Red Battle Of Aughrim which will be performed by Little Gem Puppets and followed by paperbag puppets making. Free craft displays will also take place in the centre over the weekend.
For further information contact Julie Cruise, manager of Battle of Aughrim Visitor Centre on 09096 73939, or email [email protected], or Marie Mannion, heritage officer at Galway County Council on 091 509198 or email [email protected]
