Local History

08/14/20 • 42 min

Connecting Through Heritage with Leitrim County Council

Contributors

John Bredin is the Chairman of the Carrick-on-Shannon Historical Society and runs St George’s Heritage Centre in the town. The latter is the former place of worship for the town’s Church of Ireland congregation; now, it celebrates the contribution of the town’s Catholic and Protestant communities, or ‘twin traditions,’ who have lived alongside each other since the town’s inception. John gives us a history of the town through its shared heritage.

Margaret Connolly is a member of the Manorhamilton and District Historical Society. She has studied the establishment and activities of the town’s workhouse, and offers a fascinating understanding of its governance. It gives her a unique insight into the human cost of the event most associated with Manorhamilton’s workhouse: the Great Hunger.

Noel McPartland set up Drumshanbo’s history museum ‘Glimpses of the Past’ to exhibit the photographs, documents and other material he’s collected over the years pertaining to the town. Noel gives us a personal account of events commemorated by the museum, including the narrow-gauge railway that gave great life to Drumshanbo, until its closure in 1959.

Contributors

Previous Episode

Ecology

Contributors

Neil Foulkes has made a 30-year career out of hedge laying, and is an advocate for their maintenance. He knows all about the essential role hedgerows play in providing shelter and nourishment for wildlife in the county. He’s also in awe of their beauty, especially in Leitrim; and calls the Irish landscape a ‘wonder of the world.’

Kate Bismilla is an ecologist working with the Irish Breeding Curlew EIP, which has been set up to address the decline of breeding curlew in Ireland. The curlew is a bird that mates for life, and around its South Leitrim breeding grounds, Kate’s pioneering project works alongside farmers to help protect curlew pairs.

Annie Birtwistle and her family have farmed their plot of land at Battlebridge on the Leitrim-Roscommon border for 24 years. They’ve had great success in running a productive farm, while farming with conservational principles in mind. Annie’s family see themselves as ‘stewards of the land’; their farm is teeming with an abundance of habitats.

Next Episode

Leitrim Memory Meitheals - Drumsna Part One

"Two heads are better than one” and when you have four heads working together, the possibilities are endless. In this special double episode, we delve into the charming village of Drumsna and its surrounding areas. Join us as we hear from four esteemed residents who have deep roots in the community.

Colleen Guckian, a longtime resident since the 1950s, shares her wealth of knowledge about the village. Fr. Francis Garvey, who grew up in Garvey's public house and now serves as the parish priest of Drumsna, offers a unique perspective on the village's history. Noel Duignan, whose family has been involved in the grocery and pub trade in Drumsna for generations, gives insights into the village's evolution. Lastly, Ella Gannon, a dedicated community member for many years, shares her experiences of Drumsna, its characters and its changing landscape. The fabulous four bring us through the streets of Drumsna, giving a detailed picture of life in and around the village from the 1950s to the present day. From tales of ceilí-ing to tales of arson – this is one not to be missed! (Part 1 of 2)