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

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Speaker: John S. Kelly

Talk Description:

During the latter half of the 19th century; Ireland experienced a Land War. Our speaker, John S. Kelly, explores the three distinct phases. The first, lasting until 1882, witnessed a violent struggle between landlords and tenants, orchestrated by the tenants’ rights organisation, the Land League. During the second phase, 1882-1891, a more intensive struggle called the Plan of Campaign was instigated. The final phase of agreement and settlement eventually led to tenant ownership through a series of Land Acts.
If the Land War began as a means of securing rent abatements, it evolved into a campaign against landlordism. In County Clare, the disturbances that took place on the Bodyke section of Colonel John O’Callaghan’s estate during the 1880s, culminating in the notorious evictions of June 1887, form one of the most dramatic episodes of the entire Land War in Ireland. The Bodyke evictions became a cause célèbre in the debate over the land question, a debate argued in both the House of Commons & House of Lords; the Local, National and International Press; and played a significant part in the overthrow of the prevailing land holding system in the country.

About the Speaker:

John S. Kelly, long-associated with East Clare, is a native of Rathcroghan in Co. Roscommon. A Boarder at Summerhill College, Sligo, from 1953 to 1958. Always the keen sportsman and team-player; John enjoyed a successful football career; playing centerfield for Roscommon in the 1962 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final; where he marked Kerry-man Mick O’Connell.
John S. Kelly is a History Graduate of University College Galway. He has done Post-Graduate Research on Land Agitation in East Clare, and is the author of “The Bodyke Evictions”, published in 1987.
He was involved in the development of a Private Lay Secondary School in Scarriff in the mid-1960s, which in 1968 amalgmated with the local Vocational School to become one of the first Community Colleges in the country. John retired as Principal of the College in the year 2000.
In 1979, for the Centenary Celebrations to mark the founding of the Land League, John was invited by Clare County Council to deliver the Commemoration Lecture. All things historical are close to John’s heart, and together with on-going speaking engagements, John is a Director on the Board of the Hunt Museum Trust, charged with responsibility for overseeing the Hunt Collection on behalf of the people of Ireland.
John is married to Marie and has four adult children.

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

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Speaker: Christopher Power

Talk Title: Michael Hogan: The Bard of Thomond

Talk Description:
Michael Hogan the Bard of Thomond created wonderful material about his native city of Limerick and much of County Clare. An early master in the genre of Gothic stories, he produced highly descriptive and very original material. Perhaps his best-known piece of literature was Drunken Thady and the Bishops Lady the ultimate Christmas story. Many other creations exist in his works such as the ghostly bride Mary who haunted Quin Abbey and of course terrifying Obhinn, the Banshee, and her dreadful curses.

Hogan’s lovely descriptions of rural Clare and Limerick, not to mention various characters real, (and from beyond the grave!), are highly entertaining and, despite the huge amounts of material he produced which are largely forgotten, have a great deal to offer to a modern audience.

Hogan was also a social commentator of his time with compassion and sympathy for the many who suffered in post famine Ireland. On the issues of social justice, and those in public life, there was no sharper critic then Hogan who wrote ascorbic comment with hilarious and devastating effect against many senior figures of his time. This talk, (with visuals), will explore these fascinating aspects of Michael Hogan’s eventful life both locally and abroad and will hopefully give a wider appreciation of this largely overlooked Irish writer.

About the Speaker:
A native of North County Wexford, Christopher Power has a keen interest in local history and has produced a number of publications covering a wide range of topics; including historical aspects of Wexford, Wicklow and South Tipperary. Professionally; Christopher is a Librarian working for Carlow County Council.

Christopher’s recent book is titled “The Last Dalcassian Bard: The Extraordinary Life and Works of Michael Hogan”, and it will be available for purchase on the night of the Talk. It is an illustrated full colour biography and recently came second in the Nilsson Local Heritage writing competition at Listowel Writers Week.

Our speaker has a Limerick & Clare connection; his Uncle Christy Power, arrived to work in Limerick in the mid-1960s, a well-known Printer with the Limerick Leader, now retired, and living in Ardnacrusha. As a result, with many visits to Limerick over the years, it was Uncle Christy who introduced his nephew Christopher and his Dad Pat to Drunken Thady and the Bishops Lady.

Admission is FREE of charge

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

Every good wish,

Joseph McCloskey

Honorary Secretary,
Kilkee Civic Trust

E-mail:
Website: www.kilkeecivictrust.org

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