Speaker: J.J. Hickie – representing Kilkee Historical Society

Talk Description:

A Treasure Trove of old photographs across not only decades, but two centuries; representing a lifetimes passion for all things Kilkee; has been assembled by well-known and greatly admired Kilkee man J.J. Hickie. So large is his collection; the great dilemma for J.J. will not be what photographs to put in, but what ones to leave out! Each photograph will be accompanied by J.J.’s insightful commentary, revealing many interesting historical facts, anecdotes and, perhaps, even a few surprising revelations.
A Lawrence Collection Photograph from 1870
Hard Times for Donkey & Owner

About the Speaker:

An active member of Kilkee Historical Society & Kilkee Civic Trust; J. J. Hickie is a well-known Kilkee native, businessman, purveyor for many years of Hickie’s Victualler Shop at O’Connell St. Kilkee; now in the safe hands of his son Shane. Those who know him well say the accolade of “Local Historian” is more than justified. J.J. Hickie has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Kilkee’s life and times over recent centuries and his personal selection of photographs is certain to be memorable.

Admission is FREE of charge

A donations box is available, at each KCT Talk, to assist us in defraying essential and necessary expenses

E-mail:
Website: www.kilkeecivictrust.org

Kilkee Civic Trust is on Facebook! Please “Like” us on Facebook.

About the Speaker:

Joe Coleman has spent over 39 years in various roles working in road transport with CIE & Bus Éireann until retiring in 2017. He has a great passion for railways and published the bestselling book: “Falling Gradient”- ‘Limerick’s Railway Connections, the people and the times’ in 2016. He has given a number of lectures on the subject of local railway lines in various locations around the south west.
Joe’s other publications include: “House Full”(2014) – ‘An affectionate look back at the old cinema’s and theatres of Limerick…’ and “The Breaking Rapids” (2018) – ‘Aspects of the Treaty Riverside City and its environs…..’. All but the latter are now out of print. Joe is also a Distinguished Toastmaster and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (Ireland).

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Speaker:Dermot Cosgrove

In July of 2017 Dermot solo hiked along one of the remotest hiking trails in the world, the Arctic Circle Trail. This trail is located 40 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle crossing over the coastal mountains in the tundra of Western Greenland as far as the Ice Sheet.
In 2018 Dermot continued his trekking activities by tackling the first stage of the GR10 trail in the French Pyrenees; as part of his training for an ultra-long-distance trail in 2019. His latest endeavour has been to walk solo, and unsupported, from the most Northerly point on mainland Iceland to its most Southerly point, hiking 620 kilometres and crossing a variety of terrains from tundra to volcanic black sand deserts to mountains.
Solo, long-distance hiking requires a particular mind-set, resilience and self-reliance which Dermot attributes to a combination of his time in the French Foreign Legion and love of the great outdoors. He has combined his long-distance hiking and love of birdwatching with fundraising for charity. Dermot will talk about the training and preparation required for travelling solo in remote lands, and enduring harsh and physically demanding conditions, with photos, video footage and maps. Then; because there are more journeys ahead; Dermot will reveal his future plans for more adventures in the Arctic.

About the Speaker:

Dermot Cosgrove is an Ennis native who at 19 years of age enlisted in the French Foreign Legion, where he served six years deploying operationally in Africa and the Middle East; including the First Gulf War.
After leaving the French Foreign Legion Dermot entered the world of private security; frequently working with clients, such as the media, in conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East. He moved to Kilkee in the late 1990´s where he rekindled his love of birdwatching which, ultimately, led him to remote solo hiking. His sister’s involvement with the charity Irish Dogs for the Disabled led him to starting the “Walk for the Dogs fundraising initiative”,Facebook through which he has raised more than €15,000 to date, and continues to provide him with the motivation to plan further treks with newer, more testing, conditions.

Admission is FREE of charge
A donations box is available, at each KCT Talk, to assist us in defraying essential and necessary expenses
I have attached a copy of the “shop window poster” for this KCT Talk.

Admission is FREE of charge

A donations box is available, at each KCT Talk, to assist us in defraying essential and necessary expenses

E-mail:
Website: www.kilkeecivictrust.org

Kilkee Civic Trust is on Facebook! Please “Like” us on Facebook.

Speakers: Brian O’Connell & Cian O’Carroll

Talk Description:

Cian O’Carroll will deliver a summary of O’Regan’s life, illustrated by photographs showing his involvement in a wide range of activities.
Brian O’Connell’s talk will deal with O’Regan’s unique contribution to the development of an international tourist trade in Ireland; beyond visitors from Britain. It will cover O’Regan’s unique role in conceiving and creating an industry that today employs hundreds of thousands of Irish people in their home country and the countless obstacles he overcame in realising that vision.
Brian O’Connell & Cian O’Carroll’s book “Brendan O’Regan” will be available for purchase on the night of the Talk.

About the Speakers:

Dublin born Cian O’Carroll was hired by Brendan O’Regan as Estates Manager of Shannon Development in 1960 and oversaw the establishment of Shannon Town. He subsequently became the first CEO of Shannon Heritage. In retirement, Cian established an international consultancy on Heritage Tourism. In collaboration with Brian O’Connell, he played a leading role in creating the Brendan O’Regan Archive; a series of interviews with O’Regan in his final years.
Brian O’Connell first encountered O’Regan when setting up a business in Foynes Harbour more than 40 years ago. He later served for ten years on the board of Shannon Development and for most of that time as Chairman of Shannon Heritage. As well as his biography of Brendan O’Regan, Brian has authored biographies of antiquarian and benefactor John Hunt and Tipperaryman, Sir William Parker Carroll.

Admission is FREE of charge

A donations box is available, at each KCT Talk, to assist us in defraying essential and necessary expenses

E-mail:
Website: www.kilkeecivictrust.org

Kilkee Civic Trust is on Facebook! Please “Like” us on Facebook.