Donegal County Museum is organising a short programmes of talks about various subjects, from the archaeology of Donegal to the pivotal events of the Decade of Centenaries, during the month of May.
Judith McCarthy, Curator of Donegal County Museum, uncovers stories of casualties and survivors from the First World War in her talk ‘From Behind the Walls’ on Saturday 13th May at 2pm.
Using records from institutions such as the Workhouse and the Donegal District Lunatic Asylum, the talk will explore what happened to some of those from Donegal who suffered trauma, injury and death during and after the Great War.
Judith McCarthy will uncover stories of casualties and survivors from the First World War in her talk ‘From Behind the Walls’ on Saturday 13th May at 2pm
On International Museums Day (Thursday 18th May), Jane O’Shaughnessy, archaeologist with the National Monuments Service, will give a presentation at 7.30pm on recently discovered archaeological sites in Donegal. These include cairns, rock art and hillforts.
This talk also forms part of Donegal County Museum’s ‘ARCH 40’ programme, celebrating 40 years since the publication of the pioneering ‘Archaeological Survey of County Donegal’.
On Wednesday 24th May at 7.30pm, Dr Niamh Brennan, County Archivist at Donegal County Council, will give her talk: ‘”I want nothing only what is just” – Irish “Loyalist” Refugees and the Irish Grants Committee 1922-1929’. In the presentation, Dr Brennan aims to answer the questions; Who were the ‘southern Irish loyalists’ and what happened to them during the Revolutionary years? What was the Irish Grants Committee and how did it assist refugees and why?
Recent Donegal archaeological finds will be discussed at the talks
The talk will also look at several of the applicants claiming compensation, including those from County Donegal. Dr Brennan is the author of the much-quoted Ph.D. thesis: ‘Compensating Southern Irish Loyalists after the Anglo-Irish Treaty, 1922 – 1932’.
Admission to these talks is free. To book, contact Donegal County Museum on 074 9124613 or email to museum@donegalcoco.ie.