Longford's National Heritage Week events include unveiling of commemorative plaque

National Heritage Week 2024 takes place throughout this week and all across Longford volunteers are putting together events to highlight the importance of heritage to our communities.

In County Longford, Heritage Week is an opportunity to explore our history, culture and nature through a variety of walks, talks, workshops and events held by communities and local groups.

National Heritage Week aims to encourage members of the public all over Ireland to celebrate their ‘living heritage’ throughout the week which runs from last Saturday August 17th through to next Saturday August 25.

One of the highlights will be 'The Workhouse – Ballymahon' a discussion by the ‘Leo Casey’ Historical Society that takes place at the Workhouse Road, Ballymahon, on August 22, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm.

The Workhouse, was an institution which operated in Ireland, during British rule, for a period of approximately 80 years, from the early 1840s to the early 1920s. There were 163 workhouses in total.

Under the Poor Relief (Ireland) Act 1838, the Poor Law Commissioners divided Ireland into poor law unions, in which people who fell on hard times, would receive “poor relief”.

One of the Workhouses was located in Ballymahon, and occupied a six-acre site. It was officially opened in 1852, at a cost of £7,620, and was designed by the Poor Law Commissioners architect, George Wilkinson.The Workhouse was built to house a maximum of 600 people.

It accommodated people from the electoral divisions of Agharra, Ardnagragh, Ballymahon, Ballymore, Cashel, Doonis, Doory, Forgney, Foxhall, Kilcommock, Kilglass, Ledwithstown, Noughaval, Piercetown, Templepatrick, and Winetown.

It closed as an institution in 1921, but remained the residence for some families until they were moved to new housing in the mid-1970s.

The Workhouse, was not a pleasant place by any stretch of the imagination. They were feared and hated the nation over, and would be safe to say, were the most hated institutions ever created in Ireland. If people could not support themselves, they could come into the workhouse.

Here they would do some work in return for food. People had to stay and live in the workhouse and so the system was known as “indoor relief”. Families were separated upon entry; men, women, and children were kept apart. Life within the institution itself was extremely harsh.

The Workhouse and its history, however harrowing, is our local and national heritage, and needs to be recognised on a local and national level for ourselves and future generations to come. The Workhouse from 1852 to 1921 placed an indelible mark on our past under British rule.

This piece of our local and national history remains to this day, to be a stark reminder, of the endurances of previous generations, to just survive.

During National Heritage Week, the Ballymahon Leo Casey Historical Society, will unveil a plaque to commemorate The Workhouse in Ballymahon, just before Thursday's discussion (August 22, 2024) at 7pm sharp. The plaque will be opposite Thomond Lodge Nursing Home.

Ronan Ó Ceallaigh, Treasurer of the Historical Society, will introduce and chair the event, accompanied by local historian, author, and Chairperson of the Historical Society Paddy Egan, and guests, providing talks in English and in Irish, followed by the plaque unveiling.

Music from the very talented musician Noel Carberry, will set the tone for a presentation that promises to be informative, reflective and educational.

This is a free event, and all are welcome to attend. This commemoration event would not be possible without local businesses, when approached enthusiastically supported “The Gaelic Reflections” project.

The project was initiated and created by Ronan Ó Ceallaigh, to commemorate Ballymahon’s history on a global scale, with the sole aim to grow and share appreciation for the town and its locality reaching out to the discerning tourist nationally and globally, showcasing the impact of Ballymahon’s national history, on the nation of Ireland as a whole, during its turbulent past.

The event is supported by Cooneys Hotel, Lovells Bros, O’Hanlon’s Pharmacy, Ronnie Nally’s Bar, Jolly Boys Pizza & Grill, Colgan’s Butchers, Big Bites Takeaway, Nally’s Spar & Tyre Centre, Droplink, ZAM ZAM Takeaway, Skelly’s Bar & Restaurant, Wilder & Gold.

If you want to get involved and join the historical society to assist to drive future projects, you can email ballymahonlchistoricalsociety@gmail.com to discuss further.