Decade of Centenaries

War and Peace in the Wee County. Louth during the struggle for independence and after.

Louth Library Service is delighted to announce the publication of "War and Peace in the Wee County. Louth during the struggle for independence and after" by Dr. Thomas Tormey.

This publication was funded through the Louth County Council Decade of Centenaries Programme supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Dr. Thomas Tormey took up his role as Historian in Residence with Louth Library Service in 2021. Part of his remit for the remaining years of the Decade of Centenaries Programme was weaving the local story of Co. Louth into the national story of the revolutionary period. This book of essays covers events in County Louth during the revolutionary period. A detailed analysis of particular local events provide an accessible account of how national processes interacted with the particular local circumstances of County Louth. Among the topics covered are: The Conscription Crisis, The 1918 General Election and The Great War in County Louth.

Louth County Council Commemorative Programme 2024

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport ad Media, Catherine Martin T.D., on behalf of the Government announced the 2024 Decade of Centenaries Programme on March 4th. The Decade of Centenaries programme for 2024 will recognise and explore significant events and themes in the history of modern Ireland.

Louth Library Service

Louth Library Service are delighted to announce their Autumn lecture series as part of the Commemorative Programme 2024. The upcoming series of lectures is presented by leading authors, historians, and broadcasters and is aimed specifically at an adult audience. The talks will focus on connecting and engaging adults in the local community to reflect on the early years of the state, whilst also looking back on events during the Decade of Centenaries.

Amanda Branigan, Acting Co. Librarian acknowledged the ongoing support of the Commemorations Unit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in funding the Louth County Council Commemorative programme 2024.

• Myles Dungan - The Last Land War, Thursday 5th September at 6:30pm, 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, Wednesday 11th September, Drogheda Library, 6.30pm 
  • 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,  Saturday 21st September at 3pm 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, October 10th at 6.30pm 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.’ 

Louth Arts Service: Historical Postcards from the Wee County

Louth Arts Service willcommission the creation of a series of postcards by local artists depicting images of events that happened across Louth during the period of 1912 – 1924.

The series will be printed and collections made available in the libraries for those attending Commemorative related events. The collection will also be framed for display in the county offices. Selections can also be provided to the museum and galleries under the banner of the council.

Louth Archives Service: Conservation and Digitisation of Louth Archives

The project will support local research, scholarship, and free public access to local archival sources. It will digitise a quantity of archives from the collections of Louth County Archives and where access restrictions allow, it will make these available on the County Archives website for researchers and members of the public to view, or alternatively in the research room. Those in poor condition will receive treatment by a professional conservator prior to being digitised. The digitisation will be carried out by a professional digitisation company using equipment that conforms to archival standards. The archives will include various County Council committee minute books, financial records, administrative records, and trade directories.

The content of the archives supports the study of many themes including:

• Democracy and politics, including local personalities and local issues associated with elections during the early years of the State.
• Establishing a new order: exploring the evolution of political and administrative structures at local government level; exploring the development of infrastructure at a local level and local government reform.
• Exploring local connections with nationally important events and how these were experienced or received locally.
• The partitioning of Ireland: exploring the impacts and legacies on communities living along the newly established border. 

Events

Previous Events 2023

Previous talks from 2023 are available to watch on Crowdcast via https://www.crowdcast.io/@louth-library-service

'A Cold House for Women' - Gender and the early years of the Northern Ireland state: A talk with Dr. Margaret Ward, Honorary Senior Lecturer in History at Queen’s University, Belfast

Origins of Women's Soccer in County Louth: "The Origins of Women’s Soccer in County Louth" with Helena Byrne

Republicanism, Crime and Paramilitary Policing, 1916-1945: Dr. Brian Hanley talk entitled "Republicanism, Crime and Paramilitary Policing, 1916-1945"

From Executions to Elections - Louth in 1923: Louth County Council's historian in residence Dr. Thomas Tormey discusses the tumultuous events of 100 years ago. 

County Louth Cumann na mBan and the Civil War: A talk on 'County Louth Cumann na mBan and the Civil War'