South Kilkenny Historical Society to host conference tomorrow in Slieverue

The South Kilkenny Historical Society recently announced details of its Decade of Centenaries conference which will take place in the Rhu Glenn Hotel, Slieverue, Kilkenny (Eircode X91 E395) this Saturday December 2. 

The conference, which will be officially opened by Dr Martin Mansergh at 10am, will consist of two panel discussions – ‘Reflections on the Decade of Centenaries 2012 – 2023’ and ‘How will a future generation reflect on us one hundred years from now?’. 

In 2011 the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations was established by the Taoiseach. Its role is to advise the Government on historical matters relating to the Decade of Centenaries, and to consult widely with academic, community and voluntary groups and members of the public to ensure that significant events are commemorated accurately, proportionately and appropriately in tone. 

During the period of the Decade of Centenaries, 2012 to 2023, the South Kilkenny Historical Society has organised many events, in particular lectures, dealing with many of the issues which were important and instrumental in the setting up of the Free State. In 2016 it organised a very successful conference to commemorate the 100 anniversary of the Easter Rising. 

Dr Martin Mansergh, who will open the conference at 10am, is Vice-Chair of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations. In 1974 he became a First Secretary in the Department of  Foreign Affairs and was later appointed by Charles Haughey as Director of Research and Policy and Special Advisor on Northern Ireland. He served, as Northern Ireland Special Adviser to three Taoisigh and was co-recipient of the 1994 Tipperary Peace Prize with Fr Alex Reid and Rev Roy Magee. Dr Mansergh was elected to Dáil Éireann in 2007 and served as Minister for State for the OPW and the Arts between 2008 and 2011. He was a member of the Council of State from 2004 to 2011. In 2018 he was elected member of the Royal Irish Academy. 

Reflecting on the Decade of Centenaries

The first panel discussion will reflect on the events held during the Decade of Centenaries and panelist include Dr. Mansergh, Lorcan Collins, Cecelia Hartsell and Eoin Walsh.

Lorcan Collins founded the 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour in 1996. For the past 27 years he has conducted thousands of tours around Dublin City and the sites of the revolutionary period. He is the author of four best-selling books on revolutionary Ireland including The Easter Rising (O’Brien Press) published in 2001. He conceived the idea and is Series Co-Editor of 16 Lives, a collection of sixteen books on the executed leaders of the Rising. His biography of James Connolly (O’Brien Press) was published in 2012 as part of 16 Lives. He wrote the number one bestselling book 1916; The Rising Handbook in 2016. His latest book is called Ireland’s War of Independence; The IRA’s Guerrilla Campaign 1919-21. He has lectured extensively in the United States having visited over thirty Colleges and Universities and is a also a regular contributor to historical journals, radio and TV in Ireland.

Cecelia Hartsell is a U.S. historian, specialising in African American history and American social history.  Since moving to Ireland, she has been a contributor to the RTE History Show on topics in U.S. history and frequently gives U.S. history talks for the Dublin Festival of History and in the Dublin public libraries. She has completed all of the requirements save dissertation and language requirement for a PhD in American history at Fordham University and has a Masters degree in history from University College Dublin.  She published ‘The Great American Protest: African Americans and the Great Migration’ in 1916 in Global Context: An Anti-Imperial Moment, Enrico Dal Lago, Róisín Healy, and Gearóid Barry, eds.

Eoin Walsh is a native of Clogga, Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny. He has a Masters Degree in Modern Irish History from University College Dublin which was supervised by Professor Diarmaid Ferriter. He specialises in the Irish revolutionary era (1913-1923) and has authored a regional history book focusing on the War of Independence and Civil War in County Kilkenny, 'Kilkenny, In Times of Revolution, 1900-23'. He has published history articles for various newspapers and magazines. Since 2020, in association with  Kilkenny Library Services, he has created a podcast series focusing on important events in Kilkenny one hundred years ago. He currently works in Dáil Éireann and is also involved in walking tours of Dublin City centre (Historical Walking Tours of Dublin).

‘How will a future generation reflect on us one hundred years from now?’

The second panel discussion, ‘How will a future generation reflect on us one hundred years from now?’, will look at the biggest issue facing the planet - Climate change and environmental issues. Panelists include Professor Peter Thorne and Paul O’Brien. 

Professor Thorne is a professor in physical geography (climate change) at Maynooth University and recognised as a leading expert on global climate change. He is director of the ICARUS climate research at Maynooth University, chair of the Global Climate Observing Systems Atmospheric Observations panel for climate, sits on several global climate observing system and world meterological organisation bodies and task teams, and is an advisor on the Irish Citizens Assembly. His main interests have been in the investigation of observed climate change globally, with a particular emphasis upon temperature and humidity changes. 

Mr Paul O’Brien is chair of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Environmental and Rural Affairs committee. A native of Graignamanagh, where he runs a sheep and tillage enterprise, he is married to Carol and has three children Conor, Daire and Aine. Paul has been involved in the IFA for over 20 years, holding various positions within that organisation.

At present he is Vice Chair Copa-Cogeca Working Party on Environment; Chair of Taskforce on Biodiversity, Soil and Water; Chair IFA Environment and Rural Affairs committee; member of An Forum Uisce (The Water Forum); member of the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG); Farmer Representative on the Fertiliser Association of Ireland (FAI) council; and member of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) committee.

Admission to the conference is free and all are welcome. It is expected that the conference will conclude at 1.30pm.