By Sarah Mac Donald - 25 January, 2015
RTE news anchor Bryan Dobson is to chair a seminar on hitherto unseen archives relating to World War One which will take place at the beginning of February.
Entitled ‘Hidden Pages from World War One’ the seminar will be held in St Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday 3 February at 7pm.
In a novel partnership with the Irish Society for Archives, the St Patrick’s Cathedral seminar will explore previously unknown archival sources on soldiers and civilians.
Curators representing a variety of national projects and exhibitions will present short papers on sources which they have uncovered through their work.
Speakers at this event will include: Nicky Ralston, National Library of Ireland, Curator of Ireland and WW1 exhibition who will give a talk entitled ‘Meeting Michael O’Leary’.
This will focus on the way in which the National Library of Ireland uncovered the extraordinary story of Michael O’Leary’s award of the VC through the NLI’s collection of newspapers and periodicals.
Noelle Dowling, Catholic Diocesan Archives Dublin will give a paper entitled ‘From Templemore to the Rue de Bois: the Fr Francis Gleeson collection’.
This will focus on Fr Gleeson’s collection of diaries, brigade roll books and correspondence, some of which have been digitized and highly publicised in recent months.
Andrew Whiteside, Archivist, Kilkenny College will talk on ‘Jack Salter of Skibbereen’.
This paper will explore the mystery of a past pupil reported to have been killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Susan Hood of the Representative Church Body Library will give a talk on ‘Finding letters from the Western Front: a Church of Ireland parish story’.
This will focus on the ten letters written to the rector of Dundela parish in East Belfast found in a tea chest and subsequent efforts to find out more about the men who wrote them.
Andrew Smith, Education Officer of St Patrick’s Cathedral will speak on ‘Lives Remembered at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral’.
This talk will provide an overview of exhibition and the various contributions made by St Patrick’s to remember lives lost and affected by war.
The Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Very Revd Victor Stacey said he was delighted that the cathedral was partnering with the Irish Society of Archives in organising the event.
“Irish participation in World War One has traditionally been a subject area which has been neglected by historians and scholars and any new archives or sources which help to bring understanding and clarity to this episode in Irish history is to be welcomed,” he said.
Kerry Houston, Honorary Treasurer of the Irish Society of Archives, said that the seminar focused on the ideas and memories that are encapsulated in the ‘Lives Remembered’ Exhibition in the North Transept of the cathedral.
“Memory of war and conflict is a constant thread through Irish history and we hope that this evening’s talks and viewing of the exhibition will make us all rethink how we remember and how memory of violent acts can be transformed from negative and static memories to new ways of finding peace, justice, reconciliation and mutual understanding,” he stated.
The evening will begin with a short reception in the ‘Lives Remembered’ exhibition in the North Transept of the building.
This event is free of charge and no booking is required in order to attend. It will take place in the Lady Chapel of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.
