Co Longford Historical Society AGM

The AGM of County Longford Historical Society was held in Teallach Íosa, St Mel’s Road, Longford, on February 21. In his opening address, the President, James MacNerney, paid tribute to his predecessor, Jude Flynn, and to Mary Carleton Reynolds, the retired County Librarian. He remembered Ann Donohoe and Seamus Mimnagh, two stalwart society members who died in recent months.

James also thanked all who had contributed to the journal Teathbha, the 2022 edition of which was the thirteenth that he edited. He expressed gratitude to Keith Millar for his design work and to Turners’ Print, Rapid Print and Charlie O’Rourke for printing it during his term as editor.
James referred to the two major books launched in Longford in recent weeks: Aidan O’Hara’s, A Damn Yankee, Am I? Thanks! and The North Longford Flying Column: the Clonfin Twenty-one, by Bernard Sexton.

Finally, the President referred to the ongoing search for a fitting, permanent home for the society’s artefacts within the county, and hoped that one would be found soon. A museum or cultural centre would safeguard and highlight so much important material from our past for present and future generations.

Addressing the meeting, Chairman Pat Donnelly referred to the work that had been done over the past year and thanked all involved, especially the committee.

He spoke about the movement of the society’s artefact collection to a new, but temporary store at the end of last year. Echoing the President’s words, he said that the committee was working hard to secure a location for a museum.

The meeting concluded with the officers and committee being returned to serve for another year. A small selection of artefacts were on display for the evening.