MEMBERSHIP OF THE NORTH WEXFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY:
You are most welcome to join our North Wexford Historical Society for a modest membership fee.

Our membership year runs from April 1st 2023 to March 31st 2024.

We ask that you renew your membership from April 1st 2023 at our AGM or our next talk or tour please.

Annual adult single membership (Euro 15) and Family memberships (Euro 25) are available.

Our student membership is €5 and we would encourage students who enjoy history to join our society and take part in our lectures and projects.

Membership is essential as it supports our talks program, summer tours and funds projects to preserve our valuable local history.

Please ask any member or the committee about joining or renewing your membership of the North Wexford Historical Society who will be happy to help you. We love having new members who are passionate about local heritage and history.

News & Notices:

Contact us: our new email address is: northwexfordhistoricalsoc@gmail.com or speak to any of the committee who will be happy to help you to keep informed for news and notices.

Gorey Community Development Group held a public meeting on the 9th February and there was a large cross section of community and voluntary groups present. North Wexford Society was present through a large number of members that turned up to the meeting. The meeting passed a motion to restore, protect and keep the Market House in public ownership which was given formally to the Gorey Councillors present. The aim of the meeting was to set up a community development group for the betterment of Gorey Town and Environs. The North Wexford Society fully support the motion and look foward to working with Gorey Community Development Group as it evolves and progresses.

Irish Roots Magazine (Issue 124) for December 2022 – We are delighted to say our Gorey Main Street project features in the magazine with a lovely picture on the front cover of No 92 Main Street Gorey of Paddy Conroy & Family Butchers. Please look out for it and buy a copy at €4.99 or subscribe on the website for a past issue or pdf electronic version. Thanks to Virgil Conroy and Joe Funge for permission to use their images in the magazine.

UPCOMING EVENTS 2023: 

If you are interested in attending our events/talks or tours please contact us at the following email: northwexfordhistoricalsoc@gmail.com to register or book your place. Further information is below.

If you wish to attend a talk hosted by us in Gorey Library you can also book through the library in Gorey as well – just give them a call. Gorey Library also promote our talks on their face book page. We thank Gorey Library and staff for their continued support and giving us the space to host the monthly talks. Talks in the library are free to attend with space reserved for members of the society.

The society membership fees allow us to engage speakers for our monthly talks and run our successful summer tours. Members will be contacted about our events. You must be a subscribed member to attend any of our tours. Due to popularity booking on tours is first come first served. A cancellation waiting list will apply once the quota of the tour is reached.

Also keep an eye on the Gorey Notes in “The Guardian”, NWHS Whats app group, Facebook, Website, email and text for updates on our lecture program and for news and notice of events.

As a paid up member we will be in touch by text, email, whats app group as well to keep you informed.

Events: Talks & Tours 2023

Our talks of the current 2022-2023 season have now started again.
Culture Night 2023: Culture Night is a national event and was held on the evening of Friday September 22nd around the country and celebrated our Gorey Main Street, Market House through an exhibition and lectures as part of the event. Due to the success of the evening and limited capacity in the Market House we could only accommodate 40 seated people. Unfortunately we had to close the doors as we filled up quickly. We apologise sincerely and will run the talks again in a bigger venue in the autumn/winter period for those that missed out on our lectures.
GOREY 400:
In 2019; Gorey commemorated the 400th anniversary of the signing of the town charter which gave formal recognition to the town. The town charter was signed in October 1619 under the auspices of Bishop Thomas Ram who then renamed the town as Newborough; however this new town name never became popular or into general use. Gorey Municipal Council and NWHS have marked the year 2019 with celebratory events through the themes of reflection, renewal and re-invention. NWHS are pleased to be involved and supporting in association with The Byrne Perry Summer School and Gorey Municipal District – a book titled “Gorey 400 – the History of Gorey and North Wexford”. The book is progressing and being formatted and photos are currently being added and will be published in 2023. We hope that the book will be a timely and readable history of the town and wider region with different areas of interest which is sure to appeal to a wide audience. The book will be for posterity and enjoyment by all so we are ensuring it will be well worth the wait and hard work by the volunteers and contributors.

Please check our website and face book page for further updates as they happen.

PAST EVENTS:

2023

23/09/2023: Gorey Main Street Exhibition: Following on from the success of the Culture Night Exhibition the photographic Exhibition ran on Saturday from 11am to 4pm. Thanks to the Funge Family for the loan of their photographic collection.

22/09/2023: Culture Night 2023: A lecture on the Main Street Gorey by John Nangle and lecture on the Historic Market House by Willie Willoughby from 7 to 8pm in the downstairs room of Gorey Market House in association with Wexford County Council, Gorey Municipal District and the Arts Office Wexford as part of Culture Night 2023. This was our first time taking part in Culture Night.

22/09/2023: Culture Night 2023: A photographic Exhibition of Gorey Main Street from 4pm to 9pm as part of Culture Night 2023 in association with Wexford County Council, Gorey Municipal District and the Arts Office Wexford and the Funge Photographic Collection as part of Culture Night 2023. This was our first time taking part in Culture Night.

06/09/2023: Tour: A overnight tour to Athlone and Mayo led by Peter O’Connor with a visit to Athlone Castle, Castlebar – The Museum  of Irish Country Life, Jackie Clarke Collection Ballina, The Ceide Fields & the Davitt Museum in Straide with a stay in the Ellison Hotel Castlebar

19/08/2023: Talk: A walking history talk and tour of Gorey Town led by Willie Willoughby Local Historian as part of Heritage Week 2023 with the support of the Heritage Council and GKMD

19/08/2023: The Market House Gorey – collection of signatures on our petition to keep Gorey Market House in public ownership for the community as part of our Gorey Heritage

13/08/2023: Talk: Guarding Neutral Ireland: Kilmichael Point Look Out Post & the Coast Watching Service by Dr. Michael Kennedy Royal Irish Academy, Chris Murray Landowner and NWHS at Kilmichael Point, North County Wexford as part of Heritage Week 2023 with the support of Wexford County Council and the Heritage Council

12/08/2023: Tour: County Dublin with a visit to the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens with Guided Tour and Glasnevin Cemetery with Guided Tour of its Characters by John Nangle.

22/07/2023: Tour: County Wicklow with a visit to Glendalough Monastic Site, Woodenbridge, Wicklow Gaol and Walking Tour Wicklow Town by Pauline Shortall. With tour guide Carmel and John.

01/07/2023: Tour: Carlow with a mystery tour to Leighlinbridge (Black Castle), Ballymoon Castle, St. Lazerian’s Cathedral in Old Leighlin, Goodly Barrow Museum & Cafe, Carlow Aboretum, Carlow County Museum and Carlow Military Museum by Michael Considine. With tour guide Padraic Dooley from Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society.

20/05/2023: Tour: North Dublin Tour to Skerries Mills and Newbridge House led by Gerard Fleming

27/04/2023: Talk: Dialect, Languages and Place-names of County Wexford’  [Canúintí, Teangacha agus Logainmneacha i Loch Garman] by Annie Jowett, Queen’s University Belfast in Gorey Library

06/04/2023: The Annual General Meeting of North Wexford Historical Society was held at 8pm.

30/03/2023: Talk: Rural Electrification in the North Wexford Area through maps and documents by Brian McMahon of the ESB Archives in Gorey Library

23/02/2023: Talk: The Religious Riots in Arklow (The Arklow Question) by Pat Power in The Loch Garman Arms

26/01/2023: Talk: The Guards – An Garda Síochána of County Wexford by Tom Miller and Tony Fagan in Gorey Library

2022

15/12/2022: Talk: The Wexford Newfoundland Connections by Michael Fortune in Gorey Library

09/12/2022: North Wexford Annual Christmas Party at The Coach House

24/11/2022: Talk: The Role of the Land Agent on the Country estate of Coolattin by Kevin Lee in Gorey Library

27/10/2022: Talk: Tom Kehoe – the man from two counties; and member of “The Squad” by Christopher Power in Gorey Library. 

01/10/2022: Tour: Dublin Tour to Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park Sights, Royal Hospital Kilmainham and the National War Memorial Garden Islandbridge led by Peter O’Connor.

22/09/2022: Talk: Farewell to the Famine – Fr Thomas Hore and the parish who went to Wexford, Iowa by Jim Rees in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel.

13/08/2022: Tour: Kells Heritage Town – High Crosses & Round Tower & Trim Castle Tour led John Nangle.

23/07/2022: Tour: Historic Walking Tour – Gorey & The First World War led by Willie Willoughby.

09/07/2022: Tour: Castletown House & Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park led by Pauline Shortall.

29/06/2022: Tour: Historic Walking Tour of Gorey Town by Willie Willoughby.

11/06/2022: Tour: Johnstown Castle & Wexford Town Walking Tour by Monica Crofton led by Gerard Fleming.

07/05/2022: Tour: Huntingdon Castle in Clonegal & Walking Tour of Carnew by Kevin Lee led by Gerard Fleming and Philip Jones.

28/04/2022: Talk: Parnell the Industrialist and his mining legacy – by Pat Power in Gorey Library.

07/04/2022: The Annual General Meeting of North Wexford Historical Society was held at 8pm.

24/03/2022: Talk: Introduction to Ballyoughter Parish and it’s history and website development which lies 12kms south of Gorey by Shane Eivers; in Gorey Library

24/02/2022: Talk: The Hidden Details in Harry Clarke Stained Glass Windows [featuring Christchurch Gorey]; by Tony Walsh with Lucy Costigan and Michael Cullen; in Christchurch Gorey.

20/01/2022: Talk: By zoom: Captain Robert Halpin The 19th century telegraph cable layer – a history by Jim Rees.

2021

25/11/2021: Talk: By zoom: Earl Fitzwilliam of Coolattin Estate – Responding to the Great Famine in South Wicklow and North Wexford by Kevin Lee.

26/09/2021 Walk: Historical Walk of Gorey Main Street [the other side of Main Street following 15th August walk] led by John Nangle.

23/09/2021: Talk: The Croppies did not Forget. The Role of the North Cork Militia before and during the 1798  Rising in Wexford and how the legacy of the North Cork Militia has entered the sporting, literary and political consciousness by Michael Considine given by Zoom online meeting.

15/08/2021 Walk: Heritage Week: Historical Walk of Gorey Main Street [AIB to Ulster Bank] led by John Nangle.

10/07/2021 Tour: Mini Tour of the Graveyards in Kilcavan and Kilnahue by John Nangle.

27/05/2021: Talk: The War of Independence in County Wexford by Barry Lacey given by Zoom online meeting.

2020

30/01/2020: Talk: The Bog Bodies by Isabella Mulhall of The National Museum, Foyer, Civic Centre Gorey.

27/02/2020: Talk: “Wexford Orange Men” by Quintin Dougan, Foyer, Civic Centre Gorey.

2019

31/01/2019: Talk: Influence of Geography & Geology on Early Ireland by Dr. Robert Meehan, Ashdown Hotel.
31/01/2019: Gorey 400 Exhibition and Official Opening; Celebration of Gorey Community; Ashdown Hotel, Gorey.
28/02/2019: Talk: The Sinking of the M.V. Leinster by Dorothy Brophy, Gorey Public Library.
28/03/2019: Talk: The Irish Parlimentarians since the foundation of the State by Anthony White, Gorey Public Library.
25/04/2019: Talk: The History of Christchurch Gorey by Willie Willoughby; Christchurch, Gorey.
25/05/2019: Tour: The Dublin Tour EPIC Museum and The Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship led by Gerard Fleming.
29/06/2019: Tour: The Athy Tour Shackleton Museum & Coal Mining Museum Castlecomer led by Richard & Liz Millar.
27/07/2019: Tour: Kilruddery House & Gardens and visit to Dalkey Castle led by Pauline Shortall.
17/08/2019: Tour: Dunbrody Abbey & St. Mullins led by John Nangle.
29/08/2019: AGM: North Wexford Historical Society Annual General Meeting.
07/09/2019: Tour: Overnight Tour to Northern Ireland – Armagh, Derry, Belfast, Omagh taking in Historical Sites.
26/09/2019: Talk: The Archaeology of Gorey Bypass by Barry Leacy, Gorey Civic Library.
17/10/2019: Talk: The Versailles Treaty by Mark Perry, Gorey Methodist Church Hall, Market Square.
31/10/2019: Talk: The Esmonde Family of Ballynastragh by John Nangle, Gorey Civic Library.
15/11/2019: Event: North Wexford History and Heritage Festival Weekend 15th to 17th November, Gorey.
21/11/2019: Talk: General Bulfin of World War 1 his life story by John Powell, Gorey Methodist Church.
5/12/2019: Talk: History of The Border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland by Darach McDonald in association with Gorey Library.
13/12/2019: NWHS Annual Christmas Party

2018
11/01/2018: Talk: Enniscorthy Castle by Mary Brickley
22/02/2018: Talk: The Market House by Willie Willoughby
25/03/2018: Talk: Willie Redmond by Jarlath Glynn
26/04/2018: Talk: The Russian Revolution by Judith Devlin
23/05/2018: Tour: Dublin Museum & Dail Eireann led by Willie Willoughby
23/06/2018: Tour: Trinity College & Grand Lodge of Ireland led by Michael Reddy
21/08/2018: Tour: St. Canice’s Cathedral and Shankill Castle led by John Nangle
01/09/2018: Tour: 2 day tour to Limerick led by Peter O’Connor
28/09/2018: Talk: The Influenza Epidemic by Dr. Ida Milne
25/10/2018: Talk: The Archaeology of Ferns by Barry Leacy
29/11/2018: Talk: First World War Irish Soldiers – Wills and Letter by Hugh McShane
06/12/2018: Talk: The Sufragettes by Mary McAuliffe; arranged by Gorey Library
07/12/2018: NWHS Annual Christmas Party

2017
26/01/2017: Talk: Michael Davitt by Dr. Carla King
23/02/2017: Talk: History of the GAA by Dr. Paul Rouse
23/03/2017: Talk: Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin by Willie Willoughby
04/05/2017: Talk: The Congo by Siobhan Pierce
25/05/2017: Tour: Heritage Park and Our Lady’s Island led by Willie Willoughby
01/07/2017: Tour: St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle led by Michael Considine
29/07/2017: Tour: Avondale, Glenmalure & Altidore Castle led by Pauline Shortall
12/08/2017: Tour: Wexford Town and Johnstown Castle led by Philip Jones
09/09/2017: Tour: 2 day tour to Dungarvan and Cork led by Peter O’Connor
16/09/2017: Talk: Graveyard Seminar led by John Nangle
28/09/2017: Talk: Min Ryan by Risteard Mulcahy
19/10/2017: Talk: Vinegar Hill Archaeological Findings by Byron Jones
28/11/2017: Talk: The Vikings by Linda Doran
07/12/2017: Talk: The Reformation by Canon Mark Hayden

2016
07/01/2016: Talk: 1916 National Perspective by Dr. Brian Hughes
31/03/2016: Talk: 1916 Local Perspective by Rita Edwards
05/05/2016: Talk: Women of 1916 by Dr. Eve Morrison
28/05/2016: Tour: Asgard Collins Barracks & Howth led by Willie Willoughby
18/06/2016: Tour: Woodstock, Jerpoint, Kilkenny Castle led by Michael Considine
23/07/2016: Tour: Collins Barracks, Kilmainham Gaol, Glasnevin led by Pauline Shortall
07/09/2016: Tour: 2 day tour to Boyne Valley led by Peter O’Connor
29/09/2016: Talk: E.Shackleton & T.Crean by Kevin Kenny
27/10/2016: Talk: Fiach Mac Hugh O’Byrne by Dr. Emmett O’Byrne – Aidan Breen Memorial Lecture
17/11/2016: Talk: The Somme by Roddy Bailey
08/12/2016: Talk: Delia Murphy Songs by Carmen Cullen

2015
15/01/2015: Talk: Shell Shocked Victims Richmond Hospital by Professor Brendan Kelly
26/02/2015: Talk: Irish Soldiers and Officers 1922-1945 by Dr. Steven O’Connor
26/03/2015: Talk: Holocaust Survivor by Tomi Reichenthal
30/04/2015: Talk: Streets of Gorey by Willie Willoughby
30/05/2015: Tour: Dunbrody and Kennedy Homestead led by Willie Willoughby
20/06/2015: Tour: Ardgillen and Malahide Castles led by Zeta Ferguson
18/07/2015: Tour: The Curragh led by Michael Reddy
15/08/2015: Tour: Wicklow Gaol, Arklow Maritime Museum led by Pauline Shortall
05/09/2015: Tour: 2 day tour to Sligo led by Peter O’Connor
17/09/2015: Talk: Gallipoli by Roddy Bailey
29/10/2015: Talk: The Asgard by Pat Murphy
26/11/2015: Talk: Medieval Farming by Dr. Margaret Murphy – Aidan Breen Memorial Lecture
10/12/2015: Talk: “With their Guns and Drums” by Brendan McQuaile
Annual Christmas Party

2014
10/01/2014: Talk: History of the GAA by Dr. Ida Milne
22/02/2014: Talk: Gorey through the Ages by Willie Willoughby
28/03/2014: Talk: John Redmond by Dermot Meleady
25/04/2014: Talk: Brian Boru by Emmett Stafford
24/05/2014: Tour: 1798 Enniscorthy led by Willie Willoughby
05/07/2014: Tour: Coollattin, Duckett’s Grove led by Mattie Duggan
26/07/2014: Tour: Waterford Viking Triangle led by Philip Jones
23/08/2014: Tour: West Wicklow led by Peter O’Connor
25/09/2014: Talk: Church of Ireland and the I.C.A by Dr. Catherine O’Connor
20/10/2004: Talk: Kynoch’s Ammunition Factory by Jim Rees
27/11/2014: Talk: Irish Slavery by Philip Casey – Aidan Breen Memorial Lecture
12/12/2014: Talk: “March Away my Brothers” by Brendan McQuaile
Annual Christmas Party

2013
25/01/2013: Talk: Tara Hill by Ronnie McCormack
15/02/2013: Talk: Life in the Trenches by Brian Kenny
26/04/2013: Talk: The Peace Process by Ted Barrington
25/05/2013: Tour: Gorey Workhouse led by Willie Willoughby
25/06/2013: Tour: The Hook led by Michael Dwyer
25/07/2013: Tour: Curraghmore & Portlaw led by Mattie Duggan
10/08/2013: Tour: Glendalough led by Michael Considine
27/09/2013: Talk: Murderers, Rebels and Drunkards by Brian Donovan
25/10/2013: Talk: The Houses of North Wexford by Dan Walsh
22/11/2013: Talk: Golden Ages of Ireland by Dr O’Cathain – Aidan Breen Memorial Lecture
05/12/2013: Talk: Coollattin Evictions by Jim Rees
Annual Christmas Party

2012
25/01/2012: Talk: The Wexford Lockout
17/02/2012: Talk: The Big Flu by Dr. Ida Milne
16/03/2012: Talk: Croghan Gold Rush by Peadar McArdle
16/03/2012: Talk: Co Wexford Place Names by Michael Considine
20/04/2012: Talk: The Esmondes by John Nangle
19/05/2012: Tour: Courtown led by Willie Willoughby
20/06/2012: Tour: Carrick-on-Suir led by Mattie Duggan
21/07/2012: Tour: Ballygarret led by Dan Wafer & Philomena Egan
01/09/2012: Tour: Kilanerin led by Fionntain O’Suilleabhain
08/09/2012: Talk: North Wexford Church of Ireland Families by Michael Dwyer
26/10/2012: Talk: Royal British Legion by David O’ Morchoe
16/11/2012: Talk: McMurrough after the Conquest by Dr. Emmett O’Byrne
07/12/2012: Talk: An Irish Revolution by Dr. Ruan O’Donnell
14/12/2012: Talk: 1950’s Gorey by Mattie Duggan

2011
04/09/2011: Talk: Geology of North Wexford by Peter O’Connor.
04/10/2011: Talk: Gorey Workhouse by Aidan Breen
02/12/2011: Talk: Rural Electrification by Mattie Duggan