March 13th 2024

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Editor

Title: The 1973 Escape from Mountjoy Prison by Helicopter
Speaker: Dr Mary Muldowney,
Time: @ 7:45 PM
Location: Iona Pastoral Centre

About the Author:
Mary Muldownney – Historian in Residence – Dublin North-West at Dublin City Council
Source: Linkedin page.

Quote: “My employment history includes research and writing, lecturing and training and project management. My current role as Historian in Residence for Dublin City Council involves all of the above, as well as enthusiasm for meeting people and encouraging them to engage with their own histories. In January 2024 I moved my area of responsibility from Dublin Central to Dublin North-West.

I am the author of books and journal articles based primarily on oral history interviews. These are in addition to a range of other publications (see indicative list below)”.

Sample list from 20 publications (via LinkedIn)

With Kelly Fitzgerald, “Oral Life Stories” in Liam Harte (Ed.), The History of Irish Autobiography.With Kelly Fitzgerald, “Oral Life Stories” in Liam Harte (Ed.), The History of Irish Autobiography.Cambridge University Press · Jan 1, 2018Cambridge University Press · Jan 1, 2018
“The brief and troubled life of the Sunday Journal” The Sunday Papers. The History of Ireland’s Weekly Press. “The brief and troubled life of the Sunday Journal” The Sunday Papers. The History of Ireland’s Weekly Press. Four Courts Press · Jan 1, 2018Four Courts Press · Jan 1, 2018
“That crazy idea of giving women the vote” in They didn’t go away. Women after the 1916 Rising.“That crazy idea of giving women the vote” in They didn’t go away. Women after the 1916 Rising.Stoneybatter & Smithfield People’s History Project · Jan 1, 2017Stoneybatter & Smithfield People’s History Project · Jan 1, 2017

The Mountjoy Prison Escape by Helicopter 1973

The Mountjoy Prison helicopter escape occurred on October 31, 1973, when three Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) volunteers escaped from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin, Ireland, by boarding a hijacked helicopter that briefly landed in the prison’s exercise yard. The escape was a major event that made headlines around the world and was an embarrassment to the Irish coalition government led by Fine Gael’s Liam Cosgrave.

The escapees, Seamus Twomey, J. B. O’Hagan, and Kevin Mallon, were recaptured within months, but the incident was a significant blow to the government’s security measures and led to a massive manhunt involving 20,000 members of the Irish Defence Forces and Garda Síochána.

AP Interview with helicopter pilot Captain Thompson Boyes, 1973.

Source: Associated Press

Photo Gallery: Click on any image to open the Gallery.
An example of the Aérospatiale Alouette II helicopter used in the escape, with actual photos from a forensic examination of the helicopter used (2 photos), and the reporter Tom McCaughren reporting on the event for the main TV channel in Ireland RTÉ from Mountjoy Prison.
Sources: commons.wikimedia.org; dublinfestivalofhistory.ie; anphoblacht.com; The Irish News (2 images).

Éalú (Escape) – Mountjoy Prison
– originally a TG4 docudrama. (Irish language with English subtitles)

Source: A Troubled Land Archive

IRA Mountjoy Helicopter Escape: Up and Away

Source: PushPull Production.
A 2021 update documentary as told through the eyes of four men who were in the prison that day, two Wardens and two Republican prisoners. This documentary illustrates how a 60 second event that took place over 50 years ago is imprinted on the memory of those who witnessed it.

February 14th 2024

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Editor

Title: A Ramble about Tallaght
Speaker: Albert Perris
Time: @ 7:45 PM
Location: Iona Pastoral Centre

A Ramble about Tallaght

From its first mention in legend in the Book of Invasions, through early Christian monastic settlements, castles and grand residences, Fenian raids and the Battle of Tallaght, there has been huge change in Tallaght. In more recent times it has seen car and motorcycle racing, an aerodrome, the rise and fall of a chocolate factory and a pioneering telecommunications firm. The massive population explosion and rapid modernisation towards the end of the twentieth century means this once-tiny village in Dublin’s foothills is now home to over 80,000 people.
Source: Amazon.com

Gallery of images from ‘A Ramble about Tallaght’ – Click to Enlarge

Source: Amazon.com

About the Author

Albert Perris was born in Tallaght in 1972. He has had a successful career in the community and voluntary sector for 25 years, managing and developing community, voluntary and social services throughout Ireland. He has served as National Manager of Specialist Services with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Interim Head of Services with the national charity Alone, and CEO of national service provider Respond Support. Albert started his career as Co-Founder of the Tallaght Homeless Advise Unit in 1994, which resulted in him become involved in Social Research, undertaking numerous Social Research assignments in Tallaght, Clondalkin and Blanchardstown.

1999 saw the publication of “Since Adam was a boy: An Oral Folk History of Tallaght” (TWS), preserving for future generations, the oral histories and memories of some of Tallaght’s oldest residents, collected and collated over a two year period.

His work was published by the Forum on Youth Homelessness (2000), Blanchardstown Area Partnership (2000) and Clondalkin Partnership (1999).

After this Albert became heavily involved in Reminiscence Work with older people in Ireland, for which he was awarded a Social Entrepreneurs Award in 2009 for establishing a national initiative Reminiscence Ireland. He has trained Reminiscence Practitioners throughout Ireland. Through his passion for Reminiscence Work and Oral History, he discovered an equally enduring passion for Local History and its role in Community Identity and development. This led him to undertake “A Ramble About Tallaght”.

His book is richly illustrated with period photographs and original drawings by Michael O’Brien,

Source: Amazon.com & civictheatre.ie

January 10th 2024

Posted on January 1, 2024 by Editor

Title: Saint Brigid
Speaker: Jacqui Dalton.
Time: @ 7:45 PM
Location: Iona Pastoral Centre

Saint Brigid of Kildare. Stained glass window at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Macon, Georgia, United States

Saint Brigid of Kildare or Saint Brigid of Ireland (Irish: Naomh Bríd; Classical Gaelic: Brighid; Latin: Brigida; c. 451 – 525) is the patroness saint (or ‘mother saint’) of Ireland, and one of its three national saints along with Patrick and Columba. According to medieval Irish hagiographies, she was an abbess who founded the important abbey of Kildare (Cill Dara),^[4] as well as several other convents of nuns.

St. Brigid’s Cross – image via media.amazon.com

They say Brigid was the daughter of a chieftain and a slave woman, and was raised in a druid‘s household before becoming a consecrated virgin. She is patroness of many things, including poetry, learning, healing, protection, blacksmithing, livestock and dairy production.
Source: wikipedia

Kildare Cathedral, or St Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare, is one of two Church of Ireland cathedrals in the United Dioceses of Meath and Kildare. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin. Originally a Catholic cathedral, it was built in the 13th century on the site of an important Celtic Christian abbey, which is said to have been founded by Saint Brigid in the 5th century. The site was taken over by the Protestant Church of Ireland following the Reformation. There is an Irish round tower in the cathedral grounds.
Source: wikipedia

Video: History of St. Brigid of Ireland.

Source: Catholic Online School

Video: Debunking Myths About St. Brigid of Kildare

Source: Unam Sanctam Catholicam

Brigid of Kildare, Pagan Goddess?
Link (above) to Phillip Campbell’s written summary debunking claims that Saint Brigid of Kildare was a “transmogrified Celtic goddess”.

Video: Making a St. Brigid’s Cross by Michael Fortune (Folklore.ie)

Source: Michael Fortune/Folklore.ie

November 8th 2023

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Editor

Title: The Liberties
Speaker: Catherine Scuffil
Time: @ 8:00 PM
Location: Iona Pastoral Centre

Link HERE to Rocques Map of Dublin 1756 on the Harvard College website.
Zoom in to find the Liberties.

Catherine Scuffil has an MA in Local History from Maynooth University. She is currently the Historian in Residence for Dublin’s South Central area which includes the historic Liberties and some of the city’s oldest suburbs. Catherine has written a number of local history books and an abridged version of her MA thesis was awarded the Old Dublin Society’s silver medal in 2018.
Source: History on Your Doorstep.

Catherine’s other Liberties related works and initiatives:
Why are there so many churches in the Liberties?
Brushing Up: The Devil of Rialto Bridge
Gangs of Old Dublin: Liberty Boys and Ormond Boys http://file
The People of The Liberties and Their Role in the Easter Rising
Of Cobblestones and Jostle Stones

Catherine has also been involved in organising: Weaving in The Liberties and along with the Liberties Cultural Association won a major award in the category ‘Communities Reaching Out’ in the All-Ireland Pride of Place Awards.

October 11th 2023

Posted on October 1, 2023 by Editor

Title: Warrenmount House Through Time
Speaker: Maria O’Reilly
Time: @ 8:00 PM
Location: Iona Pastoral Centre

Aoife: The talk will be preceded by the A.G.M. at 7.30 p.m. sharp.

If anyone has an item for the Agenda please let me know as soon as possible. Proposals for the committee are also welcome.

Subs for 2023/2024 are also due. Please have the sub in an envelope with name and email address clearly written. individual membership €15.00, couples €20.00.

Looking forward to seeing you all,
Aoife

WARRENMOUNT HOUSE: “This rather beautiful building is tucked away off Mill Street, near Blackpitts, in one of the last places you would expect to find a mansion like this.

The building dates to the 1790s and was home to Nathaniel Warren, High Sheriff of Dublin and later Lord Mayor. In a pique of modestly, he humbly named his residence Warrenmount … after himself.

In 1813 Warrenmount was transformed into a Carmelite convent and a school for girls was opened. Ownership later transferred to the Presentation Sisters. The building was extensively renovated in 2008 and is now occupied by the Warrenmount Community Education Centre.

The grounds of Warrenmount contains one of the only spots in Dublin 8 where the River Poddle emerges from its subterranean course and you can hear the famous river the trickling by”.

Source: Warrenmount House on Facebook

Warrenmount House Images: Click to enlarge.

September 13th 2023

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Editor

Title: Séamus Ennis: An Fear Ceoil
Speaker: Dr James Cully
Time: @ 7:45 PM
Location: Iona Pastoral Centre

Aoife: You may remember the splendid talk James gave about the stained glass artist, Harry Clarke some years ago. I think we will enjoy some recordings of Séamus’ playing during the evening. It should be a very pleasant evening..

Séamus Ennis (Irish: Séamas Mac Aonghusa; 5 May 1919 – 5 October 1982) was an Irish musician, singer and Irish music collector.^[1] He was most noted for his uilleann pipe playing and was partly responsible for the revival of the instrument during the twentieth century, having co-founded Na Píobairí Uilleann, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the promotion of the uilleann pipes and its music. He is recognised for having preserved almost 2,000 Irish songs and dance-tunes as part of the work he did with the Irish Folklore Commission.^[2] Ennis is widely regarded as one of the greatest uilleann pipers of all time.^[2]

Source: en.wikipedia.org

Useful links:

Mise an fear ceoil: Séamus Ennis-Dialann Taistil 1942–1946
This book provides a fascinating insight into the life and work of piper and music collector Séamus Ennis during his period as full-time collector with the Irish Folklore Commission when he worked in counties Galway, Clare, Mayo, Donegal, Limerick and Cavan.
Authors: Séamus Mac Aonghusa agus Ríonach uí Ógáin

Music: The Rainy Day/The Merry Blacksmith/The Silver Spear

delaneyamach · The Rainy Day-The Merry Blacksmith-The Silver Spear

Aidan O’Hara, RIP.

Posted on June 14, 2023 by Editor

Dear members,

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of Aidan O’Hara, a very faithful member of many years of Knocklyon History Society. Aidan was a great help in the founding of Knocklyon History Society. In fact he part gave the first public lecture of the society in 1997 commemorating the 1400th death of Saint Colmcille. He spoke to the society on many topics since, Women in the American Civil War, The Remarkable Colums – The Family of Padraig Colum and recently in the ‘zoom’ era he helped out speaking about the Famine in Longford and how his own family was affected by it..

We sympathise with Joyce and the family. Suaimhneas síorai dá anam agus go gcumhdai na haingle é ar shli na fírinne.

Aoife

All the particulars regarding Aidan’s Funeral on Saturday in St Mel’s Cathedral, Longford are on RIP (active link).

June 10th 2023: Outing to New Ross – Update

Posted on May 30, 2023 by Editor

Update from Aoife O’Tierney

DEPARTURE TIME: 9 A.M. SHARP

ARRIVAL TIME: 11A.M. APPROXIMATELY

11 A.M.- 12 NOON: TEA/COFFEE/SCONE AT THE DUNBRODY CENTRE

12 NOON – 1.00P.M. VISIT TO THE DUNBRODY SHIP

1.00P.M. – 2.00.P.M. LIGHT SNACK (OWN EXPENSE)

2.OO.P.M. – 3.15 P.M. VISIT WITH GUIDE MYLES COURTNEY TO ST MARY’S CHURCH AND GRAVEYARD.

3.15 P.M.-3.45 P.M. VISIT NORMAN GARDEN

3.45 P.M. DEPART FOR MANNION’S PUB/RESTAURANT FOR LIGHT MEAL AT 4.P.M.

6.00 P.M. DEPART FOR DUBLIN

PLEASE ALWAYS AIM TO BE 10 MINUTES AHEAD OF SCHEDULED TIMES AND PRAY FOR A FINE DAY..IT SHOULD BE A VERY PLEASANT DAY.

AOIFE

Image source: wikipedia.com

May 10th 2023

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Editor

Title: From Elegance To Economics: The story of LACE in Ireland
[N.B. this talk was previously cancelled in December 2022 due to poor weather]
Speaker: Bernadine Nic Ghiolla Phádraig
Time: @ 7:45 PM
Location: Iona Pastoral Centre

Bernadine Ní Ghiollapádraig.

From Aóife (December 2022): “If anyone has an interesting piece of lace to show that evening, maybe from the bottom drawer, feel free to bring it along”.

Please click on any image below to open a photo gallery.