Fingal Heritage Network
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
The Fingal Heritage Network is an initiative of the Fingal Heritage Plan 2005 - 2010. The network's aims are to develop an active network of heritage groups in the county in order to advance their common interests by working together, and to ensure that each group can sustain itself into the future with an active membership and programme. The network also promotes its work, and that of the participating heritage groups, by facilitating the pooling and dissemination of information, on events, projects and the availability of resources.
The network also aims to represent the collective views of its members and to influence and inform policy and planning countywide, and to secure representation on the boards of relevant organisations and bodies (County or National). The Heritage Network is supported by Fingal County Council's Planning Department and Community, Recreation and Amenities Department.
The network currently has a membership of eleven historical and heritage societies, operating in Balbriggan, Cloghran, Donabate, Howth, Fingal South-West (Dublin 15), Liffey Valley, Loughshinny and Rush, Lusk, Malahide, Skerries and Swords. The societies run a wide variety of activities in their own areas, including talks, walking tours, and exhibitions on items of historical and cultural interest. Other activites include restoring local places of historical importance, such as old graveyards and holy wells, producing publications on local history, and recording on DVD the stories and experiences of the older local inhabitants. Most of the societies organise at least one event a month. Details of the societies are provided below.
NETWORK EVENTS
As well as helping network members to work together, the network also organises public events. In July 2009 the network launched the publication 'Axes, Warriors and Windmills': Recent discoveries in North Fingal'. This published the proceedings of a one day seminar organised by the network in October 2007, which consisted of six talks presented by archaeologists who have made recent exciting discoveries in Fingal, including in Skerries, Lusk, Lambay Island, Swords and Balbriggan.
Also launched at the same event was a Photographic Exhibition depicting the social life of Fingal pre 1950. Six societies took part, Cloghran, Donabate, Lusk, Rush-Loughshinny, Malahide, and Swords. The exhibition and publication were launched by the Mayor of Fingal Ciaran Byrne, and the exhibition ran in the County Hall in Swords for two weeks, followed by successful weeks in Blanchardstown and Malahide Libraries.
On the 7th May 2010 the network held a Cultural Night of storytelling, song and music in the Man O'War pub to launch the publication of its new brochure. The event showcased the talents of network members, and was launched by the Mayor of Fingal Ciaran Byrne. The evening was a great success with over a hundred in attendance, and it is proposed to hold similar events in the future.
SOCIETY EVENTS
Donabate Historical Society are hosting a talk with illustrations by Niall Mac Coitir entitled: "The Folklore of Irish Trees and Wild Flowers". The talk will be held on Tuesday 24th April 2012 at 8.30PM sharp in St. Patrick's Hall, and all are welcome. Phone 8436091 or 087 7575753 for further information.
The Network can be contacted at: fingalheritagenetwork@gmail.com
MEMBERSHIP DETAILS
Contact details for the societies are provided below, and new members are always welcome.
Balbriggan & District Historical Society: Founded in 1981, the Society's goal is to promote an interest in the local history of Balbriggan & District. Members enjoy a monthly presentation three evenings in the spring and four in the autumn, usually on the last Tuesday of the month at 8.30 pm in the Ardgillan Suite, Bracken Court Hotel, Balbriggan. The Society can be contacted for further details at www.balbrigganhistory.net
Cloghran Historical Society: Formed in 2002, the Society aims to 'enjoy, record, conserve, restore and celebrate the distinctive qualities of Cloghran and surrounding townlands'. The Society usually meets on the last Thursday of the month at 9pm in the Coachman's Inn. The Society can be contacted for further details at www.cloghranhistory.com
Donabate Historical Society: The Society was first founded in 1948, became inactive in 1955, was re-established in 1972 and has been going continuously ever since. The aims of the Society are to collect information on the customs, stories, and historical incidents of the Donabate area. A programme of talks on local history is organized throughout the year, except for the summer months when historical walks are conducted. The Society can be contacted for further details at peadarb1@yahoo.ie
Fingal South-West Heritage Society: The Society was only founded in 2009 and so is still growing and developing. The Society aims to promote research into the history, archaeology, architecture, folklore, mythology, flora and fauna, genealogy and culture of the Fingal South-West (Blanchardstown/Castleknock etc.) area. The Society usually meets on the last Saturday of the month at 2pm in Blanchardstown Library. The Society can be contacted for further details at www.fingalsouthwestheritagesociety.com or by email at oidhreacht.info@gmail.com
Howth Peninsula Heritage Society: The Society was formed in 1995 to promote an awareness of all aspects of the heritage of the Howth peninsula, including history, literature, folk life, and landscape. The Society organises about nine talks a year, usually on the fourth Tuesday of the month in the Howth Angling Centre at 8pm. The Society can be contacted for further details at www.howthsac.com/Future%20Events.html
Liffey Valley Park Alliance: The Alliance is a federation of some thirty local and national bodies which are concerned to safeguard and preserve the amenities of the Liffey Valley. The Society usually holds talks on the third Monday of the month at 8pm in St. Mary's Parish Centre, Lucan. The Society can be contacted for further details at www.lvpa.ie
Loughshinny & Rush Historical Society: The Society was founded in 1989 and aims to compile, research, record and correlate the history, folklore and traditions of the Loughshinny and Rush area. The Society hold talks from October to June, usually on the fourth Thursday of the month at 8.15pm in the Strand Bar, Rush. The Society can be contacted for further details at www.loughshinnyvillage.com/HistoricalSociety.html
Lusk Heritage Group: The Group was formed in 1989 and aims to promote the heritage of Lusk through recording the stories of local people, and marking important occasions in the history of the area by erecting monuments, tree planting and holding exhibitions. The Group also holds a variety of events throughout the year. The Group can be contacted for further details at 01 8437285
Malahide Historical Society: The Society was founded in 1978 with the aim of promoting an interest in the long and extensive history of the area through public lectures, a newsletter and publications. The Society usually holds talks on the second Wednesday of the month at 8pm in the Presbyterian Church Hall on Dublin Road. Admission €4. The Society can be contacted for further details at www.malahideheritage.com
Skerries Historical Society: The Society was founded in 1948 to foster interest in and pursue research into local history, heritage, folklore and traditional arts and craft in the Skerries area. The Society usually holds talks from October to June on the second Tuesday of the month at 8.15pm in The Bus Bar, Keane's Lounge, Skerries. The Society can be contacted for further details at skhistsoc@eircom.net and its website is http://indigo.ie/~skerries/history
Swords Historical Society: The Society was founded in 1982 to record, preserve and promote all aspects of the history of the greater Swords area. Through its dedicated volunteers, the Society also runs the Museum and Heritage Centre at the Carnegie Library, North Street, Swords weekdays from 1pm to 4.30pm. An open day is held in the Centre on the first Wednesday of every month. The Society continually leads walks around places of interest in Swords, and for the last 16 years has published the 'Swords Voices' series on local history and culture. The Society can be contacted for further details at swordsheritage@eircom.net
Swords Historical Society also runs Fingal Genealogy, with researchers available to help those who wish to trace their Fingallian roots. It is affiliated to the Irish Family History Foundation, and further details of the foundation can be found at www.rootsireland.com
