The War of Independence in the Midlands conference organised by The Old Athlone Society will take place in Custume Barracks, Athlone on Saturday November 26. The conference has been organised to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of the war. On display at the barracks will be the Sliabh na MBan armed car and a contemporary Peerless armoured car. A host of academics will be speaking on various topics connected to the War of Independence on the day, among them are Ian Kenneally and Dr William Sheehan.
Ian Kenneally will be speaking about The War of Independence in Westmeath and South Roscommon. He is currently finishing a PhD in history at NUI Galway. He has written a variety of books and articles including Courage and Conflict - Forgotten Stories of the Irish at War (The Collins Press, €16.99 ) and the recently published From the Earth a Cry - The Story of John Boyle O’Reilly (The Collins Press, €17.99 ). Another notable speaker at the conference is Dr William Sheehan, who will be speaking on the topic of ‘Understanding British military operations in Connaught and the Midlands during the War of Independence, 1919-21’. Dr Sheehan also has an extensive range of publications including British Voices - From the Irish War of Independence 1918-1921 (The Collins Press, €4.99 ). For more information on the conference visit www.athlone.ie/whats-on/old-athlone-society-conference
