Portlaoise Library is delighted to announce the return of its summer series of local history talks. The talks will take place in Portlaoise library at 7pm on Wednesday evenings throughout the month of July. The series will cover a broad range of local history topics from cricket in Laois to controversial Laois man Kevin O’Higgins.
The first talk is by Laois native and cricket enthusiast James Bennett and takes place on Wednesday 3rd July at 7pm in Portlaoise Library. The Story of Cricket in Laois from 1833 to 2023 is a talk based on James Bennett’s recent publication of the same title, which was enthusiastically received by the heritage community locally and cricket community nationwide. James Bennett, originally from Portlaoise Main Street, is a former national school principal and cricket administrator and was elected President of Cricket Leinster in 2022.
The talk will describe and analyse the evolution of cricket from its elitest origins to its present status as an inclusive sport in Laois, examining the links between cricket and the social, political and cultural history of the county.
On Wednesday 10th July historian Regina Dunne will speak on Women’s Activism in Laois from 1914 to 1923.
Regina will provide an overview of the various women’s groups in Laois who were actively supporting their local community, their country and their father’s, husbands, brothers and neighbours who fought in the Great War.
Regina’s current research focuses on the United Irishwomen and their activities to ‘brighten the countryside’, while also trying to stem emigration from rural Ireland; she has been researching the Volunteer Aid Detachments of Laois and that work continues; in addition, she showcases some of the Bureau of Military History records to show an overall image of women’s history in Laois during this period.
The third talk in the series on Wednesday 24th July is Kevin O’Higgins, his Friends and Enemies by Arthur Mathews, based on the speaker’s latest publication of the same title.
A native of Stradbally, Kevin O’Higgins was prominent in the War of Independence, but would later be associated with the passing of the Army Emergency Powers Resolution, which authorised internment, military courts, and executions as legal instruments for the national army. Admired by some for his achievements in law and order, he was so hated by others that he was assassinated in 1927. Arthur Mathews is best known as the co-writer of the seminal Irish sitcom Father Ted, but his varied career also includes acting, producing and writing novels and plays.
Our final talk in the series is Land and Labour in Laois from 1904 to 1924 by Laois Historian-in-Residence Terry Dunne. This talk, which takes place on Wednesday 31st July at 7pm, will look at labour and agrarian protest in Laois in the years just before and during the First World War and the Irish Revolution.
Terry Dunne is co-editor of a new collection of essays published with Four Courts Press, entitled Spirit of Revolution: Ireland from Below, 1917-1923.
He has researched and written on a wide variety of Laois related history topics and his highly praised articles can be read on the Laois Local Studies website here.
On Wednesday 17th July Portlaoise Library will celebrate its first birthday with an evening of music, chat and light refreshments from 5pm. Special guest on the night is Pat Boran, Laois native, author and broadcaster. All are welcome.
Booking for talks is advised and available here or by contacting Portlaoise Library on 0578622333 or by emailing portlaoiselibrary@laoiscoco.ie
The series of local history talks in funded by the Decade of Centenaries and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
