Please note that the Society can now be contacted by mail at the Opera House:
Wexford Historical Society,
C/o Wexford Opera House
High Street, Wexford.
(No monies to this address, please)
The Society can also be contacted on our website www.wexfordhistoricalsociety.com
The site is well worth a visit and includes updates and information on events.
AGM 2010
Our first lecture in January this yearWexford Historical Society on the 20th., january was given by Mr Peter Pearson and was most enjoyable.
Annual General Meeting 17th Feb 2010
The Chairman,Mr Ian Hearn welcomed everyone and opened the meeting.
The Secetary,Ms.Imelda Carroll read her report to the society. As Ms.Susan Kelly,Hon Treasurer,was not able to get to the meeting,
Brian Matthews read her report ..All reportes were proposed and agreed.
The Chairman then conducted the Election of Officers.
The following have been Nominated and are agreeable to act as officers:
President Billy Colfer
Vice-President Nicky Furlong
Chairman Brian Matthews
Vice-Chairman As no Nomination must be appointed by incoming Committee
Hon Secretary Imelda Carroll
Hon.Treasurer As no Nomination Susan Kelly likely to be co-opted at 1st Meeting
PRO Jarlath Glynn
Editor To be only appointed by the incoming Committee
Election of Committee
Outgoing Committee Members agreeable and eligible for re-election:
Eamonn Dundon
Monica Crofton
John Gibbon
Ian Hearn
Imelda Loughman
John McCormack
Peter Pearson
Sean Rattigan
Retiring Committee Members are Anne Hickey and Jim Maguire both of whom we thank and in particular Jim who has served over 40 years including being chairman, contributor of articles and talks as well as organising numerous tours.
The Chairman then thanked the officers, committee and members who have organised, assisted and participated in organizing the events for the society. I have been privileged to have had Celestine Rafferty my predecessor as Chairman and Eithne Scallan as Secretary, both being role models. It has been a pleasure to have Imelda take over so easily from Eithne, to have Susan Kelly such an excellent treasurer and to have the expertise, experience and input of all the Committee.
We have tried to share out the work and improve fulfilment in running agreed and clearly defined functions of the society, compatible as far as possible with the
and expertise of those concerned. (Is this of any interest to the general membership of the Society?)
Deceased Members and Relatives were remembered.
Ian Hearn then finished up by saying,
'As Chairman and on your behalf I wish to thank
Jim Maguire for his 40 years service as a Committee Member and in recognition I have much pleasure, on your behalf, in presenting him with a small appreciation of his work for the society over so many years. I would also like especially to thank the outgoing Committee who have been a real pleasure to work with and to be able to call on past members for their readily available help and advice-sincere thanks to you all. Our thanks also to the County Council, The Corporation, The Press, Hilary Murphy-our much esteemed Journal Editor, who as you know has retired at the launch of recent journal, our printers C&R Print, our Journal and School Essay contributors, our speakers, the management and staff of the Library, the Opera House, the Riverbank Hotel, the Talbot Hotel, Greenacres, our bus transport providers and all who have helped the Society in any way.
Welcome to new committee
I now welcome your new committee and have much pleasure in handing over to my former Vice Chairman and fellow Rossonian Brian Matthews who I also had much pleasure in proposing for membership and as vice chairman. Thank you Brian for all your assistance and the chair is now yours.'
At this stage Brian Matthews took over as Chairman and thanked Ian Hearn for a job very well done.
The new Chairman then introduced our speaker for the evening Ms.Monica Crofton who gave a great talk on walking tours of Wexford town.
PS . . . Could we issue a polite reminder to those who may have overlooked payment of their subscription for 2010 Subscriptions are now due €20 (single) or €25 (family). Payment or enquires regarding such to the Hon. Treasurer Susan Kelly, 11, Farnogue Park, Wexford. Please do not drop any monies into the Opera House!
NEWS LETTER: AUTUMN 2009
LECTURES SO FAR…
Our first lecture in January this year entitled ‘Irish Coins and Hoards’ was given by Michael Kenny, of the National Museum, and was an extremely enjoyable and informative start to the New Year.
This was followed by our very well attended AGM in February this year where Captain Philip Gibbon gave a riveting talk about John Philip Holland, the inventor of the submarine. He also shared with us memories of his personal experiences as a sailor serving on a submarine with the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
In March of this year, Professor Tom Dunne gave an extremely interesting lecture on the Irish artist Daniel Maclise entitled ‘Daniel Maclise: Romancing the Past’.
In April Gay Conroy, great-granddaughter of Harriet Colclough gave us great insight into that famous family with her lecture entitled ‘The Colcloughs of Tintern’.
SOCIETY DIARY
September 16th at 8 pm: Wexford Library: by Celestine Rafferty, ‘The Barry Hayes Papers - A Research Archive’ a lecture on the papers of John Barry in honour of national archive month, in conjunction with Wexford County Library Service.
October 22nd at 10.30am: The first of 8 Festival tours.
October 27that 8pm,: The Riverbank House Hotel, Ferrybank: The Dr. Hadden Memorial Lecture by Dr. Billy Colfer, ‘Pro salute anime mea: Church estates in medieval Wexford’.
November 12th at 8pm: Greenacres, Selskar, Wexford: Launch of Journal 2008/2009
.
December 13th at 1.00: The Riverbank House Hotel, Ferrybank: The Annual Society Dinner plus lecture by Philip Scallan, ‘From Wexford to Wexford: The Story of a Boat Trip around the Irish Coast.’
The Annual Society Dinner will be €22.00 this year with booking and payment by December 3rd please to the Hon. Treasurer Susan Kelly, 11, Farnogue Park, Wexford. Please do not drop any monies into the Opera House!
2010
January 20th., Lecture by Mr Peter Pearson at 20.00hrs in The Opera House
February 17th., AGM and Lecture by Monica Crofton at 20.00hrs in The Opera House
March 24th., Lecture,The Military Order of Knights,the Knights Hospitaller and The Knights Templar in the South-East of Ireland.
by Mr Niall Byrne
May 7th., to 9th., A 3 day trip with WHS society to Cashel & Limerick, details to follow.
Please note that the Society can now be contacted by mail at the Opera House:
Wexford Historical Society,
C/o Wexford Opera House
High Street
Wexford
The Society can also be contacted via our website
www.wexfordhistoricalsociety.comThe site is well worth a visit and includes updates and information.
CARRICK-ON-SUIR :
On Sunday June 21
st the Historical Society took off again! This time on a day trip to Carrick-on-Suir, taking in visits to Kildalton and Ormond House too. Ian Hearn organised a fabulous trip for us all. We don’t know what his secret is, but it was about the only fine Sunday we had all Summer! Thankfully, we didn’t know that then, but well done to Ian on all counts for that trip!COMMITTEE 2009:
President: Billy Colfer; Vice-President: Nicky Furlong; Chair: Ian Hearn; Vice Chair: Brian Matthews; Hon. Sec.: Imelda Carroll; Hon. Treasurer: Susan Kelly; Press Officer: Jarlath Glynn
Eamon Dundon, John Gibbon, Ann Hickey, Imelda Loughman, Jim Maguire, John McCormack, Sean Rattigan, Hon. Editor: Hilary Murphy.
JOURNAL
We are proud to announce that Journal No. 22 of the Wexford Historical Society will be launched this Autumn, edited by Hon. Member Hilary Murphy. The launch of the Journal will take place in Greenacres, Selskar, Wexford on Thursday November 12
th. Everyone welcome.A limited number of back journals are still available. See Society website for more information.
The hardy bunch outside Beaulieu House, Drogheda.
FESTIVAL TOURS:
Society members and their friends are welcome to join the Wexford Festival Tours which are arranged by Nicky Furlong and are free. This year there are 8 in total starting from Thursday 22
nd October. Lifts may be offered or accepted as appropriate with departure at 10.30, usually from Talbot Hotel.See local press and Festival literature for full details or check the Historical Society website.
ESSAY COMPETITION:
This year Wexford Historical Society has initiated an essay competition for second level students in an effort to nurture and further interest in Local History studies. 1
st prize went to Louise Bolger for her essay ‘Commodore John Barry’, 2nd, Grainne Keeling for ‘Dr. Tom’s Legacy’ and 3rd Gemma Coughlan for ‘Foundation of a Masterpiece’. We wish the girls the best of luck with their studies in the future.BRU NA BOINNE :
On May 8
th- 10th a hardy bunch of yellowbellies made their way up to the banks of the Boyne for a three day field trip. A great time was had by all and many thanks to Dr. John Gibbon who, with the help of Susan Kelly and Imelda Carroll, organized a marvellous trip for us all.
TO THE BANKS OF THE BOYNE: Bru na Boinne!
This year John Gibbon lead a three-day field trip to the Boyne Valley on the 8/9/10 of May for 35 people. A full and interesting tour is which includes a visit to Beaulieu House, Knowth, the Battle of the Boyne Centre and other highlights!
BOOKS,
County Wexford in the Rare Oul’ Times, vol ix.
Nicholas Furlong & John Hayes.
Old Distillery Press, Wexford (2005).
The first three volumes in this series, featuring old and rare Wexford photographs, were remarkably successful and are now collectors items.
This edition features county Wexford at war, 1910–1924, with dramatic photographic coverage of World War I off the south-east coast of Ireland; the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War in county Wexford. Many of the photographs are published for the first time. This important volume will be of interest to the general reader and also for academic research.
Nicholas Furlong is the author of several books, stage productions and historical biographies. As a journalist of long standing he has contributed widely to many publication and currently contributes a weekly feature to the Echo Newspapers group.
John Hayes worked in the People Newspapers Group for many years. His expertise in the field of photographic restoration has been an outstanding feature of the series.
Prices:
- Limited hardback edition: Ireland and United Kingdom: €30+€8 p.& p.
- Elsewhere: €30 + €16 p.& p.
- Softback edition: Ireland and United Kingdom: €23 + €4 p.& p.
- Elsewhere: €23 + €5 p. & p.
Contact:
Nicholas Furlong,
Rosslare Road,
Wexford,
Ireland.
Phone & Fax: 053 43063
Wexford’s Medieval Churches
In view of the proposed development of Selsker Abbey/Church and a report in the local paper of a suggestion to open up the town’s medieval graveyards as public spaces, a note on the historical significance of these sites may be opportune. The complex nature of Wexford’s medieval ecclesiastical structure resulted from the combination of Gaelic, Hiberno-Norse and Anglo-Norman foundations both inside and outside the walls, leading to the establishment of five intramural and seven extramural parishes. The association of eight of the twelve churches with the complex Norse parochial system indicates that they were pre-Norman in origin. The extramural churches are located outside the gates of what is believed to have been the original Norse town. Of the five parishes inside the walls, four of the church dedications, St Doologue’s, St Mary’s, St Patrick’s and St Iberius, were Hiberno-Norse as the parishes predated the arrival of the Anglo-Normans. The modern church of St Iberius is believed to occupy the site of the medieval church of the same name: no trace survives of St Doologues; one gable of St Mary’s survives and there are substantial remains of St Patrick’s.
Four churches just outside the gates of the town (Holy Trinity, St Michael’s, St Bride’s and St Peter’s) were also associated with the Norse town. Of these only the graveyard of St Michael’s survives, the others are remembered in street names. The grant by Strongbow before 1176 of a free hospital at Wexford is probably represented by the church of St Mary Magdalene at Maudlintown, 1.5km to the south of the town. The principal Anglo-Norman foundation in Wexford was the priory of St Peter and Paul of Selskar founded as a priory for the Canons Regular of St Augustine, probably on the site of an earlier foundation as Irish monastic houses frequently adopted the Augustine rule in the twelfth century. The double-naved church, possibly of thirteenth-century date, is largely destroyed, except for the gables containing remnants of west windows and an arcade of four pointed arches separating the aisles. The battlements of the somewhat later fortified tower at the east end, described in 1834 as ‘much decayed’, were restored in the nineteenth century when the tower was adapted as a belfry for a new church. The extramural church of St John, at the junction of John’s Street and John’s Gate Street, was part of the preceptory of Knights Hospitallers, probably brought to Wexford by Strongbow who granted them the church of St Michael in the town. The Franciscans were the only medieval religious order to be established in Wexford, arriving about the middle of the thirteenth century. Their foundation, located just outside Kayser Gate, is still occupied by the order, providing a direct ecclesiastical link with the medieval town. The number of street names which originated as medieval church dedications is a clear indication of the influence of churches on the development of Wexford over the centuries.
It is clear that these church sites are an integral part of the fabric of Wexford. As the last resting place of generations of the town’s inhabitants, Gaelic, Viking, Norman and English, they are a repository of the town’s history and heritage over the past millennium. Any development must be carried out with great sensitivity and to the highest professional standards.
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