The long-standing annual Éigse Sliabh Rua November conference on local history is due to open this coming Friday November 11 at 8pm in the Rhu Glen Hotel Slieverue.
This year’s Éigse will be opened by the well-known author and broadcaster Damien Tiernan. Mr Tiernan is the RTE face of the southeast, and is instantly recognised by regular television viewers across the country. Mr Tiernan was honoured as European Young Journalist of the year Ireland in 1995. He also held the post of chairperson of the Irish Executive Council of the National Union of Journalists between 2007 and 2009. For several years Damien has been the south east correspondent at RTE.
The opening lecture could not be more suitable and fitting for Éigse, it is titled The History of the Ordnance Survey in Ireland. The lecture will be delivered by Richard Kirwan author of If Maps Could Speak. Richard is a native of Waterford and studied civil engineering at UCC. Richard became deputy assistant director of the Ordnance Survey in 1986, and served as director of the Ordnance Survey for nine years.
The next day Saturday November 7, will feature a tour of the Bishop’s Palace Museum on the Mall Waterford at 11.15 am.
Jack Burtchaell will deliver a lecture on Tuesday November 15, at the John O’Donovan Parish Centre Slieverue at 8pm. The lecture is titled Slieverue and Environs 100 years ago in 1911.
The Parish Hall at The Rower hosts Éigse on Thursday November 17 at 8pm. Emeritus Professor of Geography William Nolan will talk on Using Archives and Sources for Local History.
The annual school bus trip will take place on Saturday November 19, departing Slieverue at 10am for Kilkenny Castle.
The final lecture of 2011 Éigse will take place at the John O’Donovan parish centre Slieverue at 12 noon on Sunday 20, November where Dr Breda Lynch will talk about Events and People relating to Slieverue Hall. Breda is a native of Slieverue and studied both as an undergraduate and as a post graduate at National University of Ireland Maynooth.
