PICTURES | Remarkable variety of articles in County Longford Historical Society journal, Teathbha 2023

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There was a large and enthusiastic audience at the launch of the 2023 edition of County Longford Historical Society’s Journal, Teathbha, in Longford Library on November 27.

This is the twenty-second edition of the journal and the first to be edited by Martin Morris. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

The speakers at the event were County Librarian, Martina Needham; Cllr Colm Murray, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council; Pat Donnelly, chairperson of the historical society; and Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Dr Paul Connell, who performed the launch. Martin Morris was unavoidably absent. Kitty Hughes acted as MC.

Bishop Connell, himself a distinguished historian, praised the journal and congratulated all involved in it. He also spoke about the importance of local history.

As always, Teathbha contains a remarkable variety of articles about Longford’s history, written by established contributors and several new ones.

Subjects covered include Inchcleraun Island, the O’Farrells in the medieval period, land and society in the barony of Moydow, the Montgomery family, marching bands, Padraic Colum’s poem ‘A Drover’, Ballinamuck ‘98s GAA Club and the interesting story of Francis McDonagh/Hanlon. There is a piece about a Longford emigrant’s life in New York and details of Longford holders of American passports in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Recent major centenaries feature, with articles on the arrival of the Civic Guard in Longford and the 1923 general election.

You can read about the first Longford man to referee an All-Ireland final, the descendants of Richard More-O’Ferrall, reminiscences of a man who helped ‘save’ the 1946 harvest and an account of the first international conference on the Edgeworths’ role in education.

The journal is an ideal Christmas present. It is available at €12 per copy in many local outlets including O’Reilly Insurance Ltd and Donlon’s Newsagent, both on Dublin Street, and in Newsround, Ballymahon Street.