Inaugural

Knocklong Rescue

Commemorative

Seminar

May 10th 2014Knocklong, Co. Limerick

The War of Independence in

Munster

Hosted by Knocklong H.H.T.

9.30 Registration

10.00 Opening address by

Dr. Martin Mansergh

10.30 Dr. John O’Callaghan

11.15 Interval

11.30 Dr. Tim Horgan

12.15 Séan Hogan

13.00 Lunch

14.00 Dr. John Borgonovo

14.45 Pádraig Og O’Ruairc

15.30 Interval

15.45 Question and Answer

Session chaired by

Tom Toomey

16.30 Closing of Seminar

Venue: Knocklong Community CentreDate: Saturday 10th May, 2014

Knocklong History, Heritage & Tourism is a special interest group set up by Knocklong Development Association. Our role is to develop the history, heritage and tourism aspects of the community of Knocklong.

Knocklong, like many other villages in rural Ireland, has declined economically and socially. Today it is hard to imagine that one hundred years ago Knocklong was bustling with industry and the scene of the dramatic rescue of Séan Hogan during the fight for freedom.

Knocklong HHT want to honour the past and in doing so we hope to rescue our village and revitalise it for the future. Since our inception in November, 2012, we have surveyed the historical graveyards in the parish, available online at historicgraves.ie. We have exhibited memorabilia and hosted a historic walk for the Knocklong Gathering 2013.

In December, 2013, we hosted an Afternoon of History with presentations on the Creamery and the Railway. There was a lively question and answer session on the Rescue of Sean Hogan and the War of Independence: which confirmed our belief that there is a need to explore and commemorate this event of local and national importance. Our aim is not to be partisan but to understand the sacrifices and difficulties endured by our ancestors for the foundation of the republic.

Key Speakers

Dr. Martin Mansergh Dr. Martin Mansergh, philosopher, politician and writer of The Legacy of History. He played a key role in the Northern Ireland Peace Process over the last twenty years as well as serving as Minister of State for Department of Finance and for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. He has served under three Fianna Fáil leaders as Director of Research, Policy and Special Advisor on Northern Ireland where he was involved in discussions between the nationalist parties and the Irish Government and met regularly with intermediary Father Alec Reid. Dr. Mansergh has played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace process over the last twenty years.

Dr. John O’CallaghanJohn O’Callaghan is a lecturer in modern Irish History based in Sligo. He is a native of Limerick and he graduated from the University of Limerick with a Phd in History, in 2009. The topic of his thesis was ‘The Republican Movement in Limerick 1918-1921’. In 2010 ‘Revolutionary Limerick’, a major work on the War of Independence in the Limerick area was published by the Irish Academic Press. In 2011 ‘The Battle for Kilmallock’ a history of the key battle in the Civil War was published by Mercier, to be followed by ‘Plassey Gaels’ a history of GAA in the University of Limerick which was published by the Collins Press in 2012. John is currently working on a biography of the executed 1916 leader; Con Colbert.

Dr. Tim HorganTim Horgan was born in Tralee County Kerry and he completed his second level education at the ‘Green’ in Tralee. Tim then went to UCD where he studied medicine. He qualified as an Opthamologist and he practises in Tralee. His first major work was ‘The men will talk to me’ a book based on the interviews carried out by Ernie O’Malley in Kerry in the 1930s. This was the first in a series of books, by various authors, based on O’Malleys interviews. Tim is a member of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society and he lectures widely on the War of Independence in the Kerry area. He is currently working on a study of the dead of Kerry in the War of Independence and Civil War entitled ‘Dying for the Cause’. Tim comes from a proud Republican tradition.

Dr. John BorgonovoJohn Borgonovo is a lecturer in modern Irish history at University College Cork. John is from San Francisco in the United States. He is the author of a number of publications the most important of which is ‘Spies, Informers and the Anti-Sinn Fein Society, The Intelligence War in Cork City 1919-1921’. This work is widely regarded as one of the most in depth studies on the intelligence war, in one of the most violent areas of the period. In the controversy arising from the publications of Dr Peter Hart, John Borgonovo was a voice for reason who distilled fact from fiction and in the process clarified the issues and made them meaningful to the public at large.

Seán HoganSeán Hogan is a native of Puckane near Nenagh. He has researched extensively and lectured on the 1913 -1922 period in North Tipperary. In the 1980’s he recorded valuable historical recollections of 35 people who participated in the events described in his widely-acclaimed book “The Black and Tans in North Tipperary – Policing, Revolution and War – 1913 -1922” which was published in 2013. Sean’s narrative is most unique in that he draws extensively on a large number of interviews with participants and living witnesses which he carried out over a thirty year period. In addition he has accessed a large body of archive and other reference material. Sean has lectured extensively on the period throughout Tipperary, Limerick and Dublin. He works in the public service in Dublin.

Padraig Óg O’RuaircPadraig is a native of Meelick County Clare. He was educated at St Nessan’s College Limerick and UCD where he graduated with a degree in Archaeology. He is the author of a number of works on the War of Independence and Civil War. ‘Blood on the Banner,’ dealing with War of Independence in Clare, is his most famous work. His other major works ‘Revolution’ and the ‘Civil War in Limerick City’ are both very significant works on the period. He has also been very involved with commemorative groups in south east Clare where he has been responsible for the erection of a number of very fine monuments in the area. He is currently studying for a Phd at the University of Limerick and he works in the public service.

Tom Toomey Tom has been involved in local history for thirty years. In The War of Independence in Limerick,1919-1921, he provides historical narrative of the period that is informed by the Witness Statements of many of those who participated in the events that took place. His further research of Colonial Office and War Office files in the British National Archives at Kew, London, has ensured that an equally detailed description is given of both the British military and the Irish police forces. He has published a number of works, including Forgotten Dreams, the biography of Major Ged O’Dwyer (1995). Along with Harry Greensmith, he co-authored An antique and Storied Land, a history of the parish of Donoughmore (1991). In 2006 he was awarded an MA in Local Studies by the University of Limerick. In addition, he has written a number of booklets and lectured on local history.

Key Speakers continued

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Contact DetailsE: knocklongseminar@gmail.comPhone: Dermot (086) 2354917

Admission FeeAdults 10 euroStudents 5 euroPayment on the day of the event.

FoodHot lunch will be available on the day for 10 euro.Tea and coffee will be served.(Pre Booking Essential)

LocationKnocklong, Co. Limerick52.4333° N, 8.4000° W

Knocklong is on the R513 approximately 20 miles from Limerick city on the Mitchelstown to Limerick Road.

Join Us To Celebrate

If approaching from Mitchelstown take a left immediately prior to the railway bridge. If approaching from Limerick take a right immediately after the railway bridge.

Twitter: Knocklong History @KnocklongHistwww.knocklong.net

Please fill in the Registration Form and email details to:knocklongseminar@gmail.com