A full week of free events on offer as part of Clare Libraries History Week!

Members of the Clare public are being encouraged to engage with the county's history as part of the Clare Libraries History Week. 

Running from October 4 to 10, all events are free of charge and will include a range of talks and exhibitions held around the county and online.

Speaking about the important week, Senior Executive Librarian Dolores Meaney said, “Clare Libraries History Week gives us an opportunity to showcase the historical research related to our county and hear the voices of local historians and researchers.  Whether you are a history enthusiast, a scholar, or simply curious about the past, this week is designed to be welcoming and accessible to all.”

Starting on Saturday October 4, Karen J McDonnell will hold a workshop on writing into family and local histories. Monday will then see two lectures, an online presentation of both High and Parnell Street in Ennis by Lucille Ellis and a discussion of music in Clare by Ollie Byrnes.

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Tuesday and Wednesday will feature talks and exhibitions from a variety of presenters, such as Brian Crowley’s ‘The Liberator in Chains’ lecture about the O’Connell movement, Kirsten Mulrennan’s Shannon Development Photographic Archive and a talk on 'The Colleen Bawn' by Pat Fitzgerald and Joe Queally in Kilrush Library. Wednesday also features a showcase of the digital imaging project in the Clare Abbey and a talk on the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power plant in the Clare Museum. 

Thursday will be a Genealogy Day, where at the De Valera Library in Ennis, Jane Halloran Ryan will be available for family history taster lessons. Brian Gurrin will talk about the Clare’s census records in the Virtual Treasury of Ireland project and the 'Clare Roots' lecture by Aoife Kelly will examine family histories through Kilfenora’s musical traditions. Clare County Librarian Helen Walsh stated, “History and genealogy play a major role in Clare Libraries and provide us with invaluable insights into our roots and the events that have shaped our world.”

Finishing the week will be John Rattigan’s 'Curator’s Talk' and a lecture remembering Paddy Hannan with Quin Heritage Group.

History Week has been funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

A full list with further details of the programme of events for the week is available at: https://clarelibraries.ie/projects/history_programme