'Forgotten Defenders' to be remembered at upcoming Clare Museum lecture

The Clare Museum lecture series returns on Wednesday, January 14 with ‘The Forgotten Defenders - Pillboxes of the Shannon Estuary.’

The talk will be given by Bryn Coldrick and Tom Cassidy  at 7:30 pm on January 14 in the Clare Museum, which is located in Ennis town.

It will present the findings of archaeological and built heritage investigations, historical research, and community engagement being carried out on World War Two-era pillboxes in the vicinity of the Shannon Estuary.

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These investigations were initiated by the Foynes to Limerick Road (including the Adare Bypass) Project being carried out for Limerick City and County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

Bryn Coldrick has worked as a cultural heritage consultant in both Ireland and Australia since the late 1990s.

He is currently a Senior Consultant with Archaeological Management Solutions, who are one of Ireland’s leading cultural heritage consultancies, based in Kilrush.

Bryn’s previous talk at Clare Museum was in relation to the Civil War graffiti on Mountrivers Bridge, near Doonbeg.

Tom Cassidy is the former Architectural Conservation Officer with Limerick City and County Council and now works independently as a buildings archaeologist (Fola Archaeological and Heritage Services).

He has 40 years of experience as a buildings archaeologist and has worked as a lecturer in architectural heritage and historical conflict issues as a visiting professor at Elon University, North Carolina.

Admission is free, but as there is likely to be a high level of interest in the talk, those planning attending are asked to book a place in advance by emailing claremuseum@clarecoco.ie.

The Lecture Series will continue at Clare Museum on the second Wednesday of each month, until May 2026.

Upcoming topics include; the Folklore of Ireland Society founded in 1927, music and social life in the country house and the folklore of County Clare’s caves.