Programme for Dé Sathairn 12 Bealtaine-Saturday 12th May

The Irish Diaspora

John Boyle O’Reilly  Society of Ireland in association with DKIT  presents a seminar focusing on historical influences of the Irish Diaspora particularly in USA and the UK but will also look at contemporary issues regarding emigration.

Irish America and their influence on USA Politics

Talk by: Niall O’Dowd Editor Irish Voice New York and Irishcentral.com

The role of the Irish in Britain– Agents for Change

Talk by: Dr. Kevin Bean Liverpool University

Boston Irish Connections from Famine Days.

Talk by: Prof Catherine Shannon University of Massachusetts

Settlement Patterns of the Irish in North America

Talk by: Michael O’Connell UCC

Venue: Westcourt Hotel, West St. Drogheda

Times: 10am -2pm

Bookings: modowd@mail.com

Imeacht... an afternoon of poetry, music 

and song.

For the many people who left during and after the famine it was common to have what was called Tórramh Meiriceánach , an American Wake. This was conducted just as a wake would be for the dead, because it was felt that the person leaving would never be seen again and was effectively dead as far as the people left behind were concerned. The quays from  which emigrant ships left for the England and the New World were often called áit na ndeór , the place of tears..

They took the stories, haunting melodies and poetry of Ireland with them.

Featuring a variety of unusual instruments, musicians and singers. With intricate melodies, harmony and driving rhythms of uilleann pipes, whistles and flute that make Irish music so loved throughout the world.

Join us to commemorate  An Gorta Mor and the Irish Diaspora .

 Venue: Outside St Peters Church, West St. Drogheda

 Times: 2.30pm -5.30pm

Forgotten Voices: the Great Irish Famine revealed through the Strokestown Estate Archive.

Lecture by. Roisin Berry and Dr. Ciaran Reilly

Róisín Berry will provide a broad overview of the work of the OPW-NUI Maynooth Archive and Research Centre at Castletown, the Strokestown Estate and its fascinating Famine archive, and the ‘Forgotten Voices’ exhibition and its main objectives.

Dr. Ciaran Reilly  will examine the nature and content on the voluminous petitions which form part of the Strokestown Park Archive. These petitions, from a variety of sources, highlight the daily suffering of the people of county Roscommon during the Great Famine, while also examining some heretofore unexplored aspects of the calamity.

Venue: Highlanes  Gallery, Laurences  St. Drogheda

Times: 2pm ( free but booking essential)

Bookings 041 9803311 info@highlanes.ie

Exhibition on the ‘Forgotten Voices’‘of the great Irish Famine/ OPW-NUI Maynooth Archive & research Centre at Castletown.

 

The exhibition is a rich and varied selection of documents belonging to the Strokestown Estate Archive from the period of the Great Irish Famine (1845-51). Census records, emigration lists, and pleas from starving tenants are but a few of the documents on display, capturing in raw detail the devastation endured by local people in Roscommon during Ireland’s greatest humanitarian disaster on record. The archive brings to life once more many of the voices that were extinguished through starvation, disease and emigration during this period.

Venue: Highlanes  Gallery, Laurence’s  St. Drogheda

Times: 12^th to 30^th May 2012