Portlaoise Library will host a series of fascinating history talks this summer on a broad range of history topics from the genesis of soccer in Portlaoise to in depth investigations into the fatalities of World War I and the Irish Civil War.
The talks will take place in Portlaoise library at 7pm on Wednesday evenings throughout the month of July as part of the 2025 Summer Series of History Talks.
For more information and to book your place visit this LINK.
Cormac Moore’s talk on the Irish Revolution in Laois will look at the transformation of life in the county during the period 1912-1923, moving beyond an examination of the Irish Revolution solely through the prism of political violence.
David Broderick will treat us to the story of the disappearing workhouse master Henry Ogle, who absconded from Portumna Workhouse in 1864. This is an almost unbelievable tale of fraud, deceit, escape to New York, and twelfth-hour retribution, a case where fact is more fascinating than fiction.
John Dorney will share the findings of the Irish Civil War Fatalities Project, the first comprehensive survey of civilian and combatant fatalities, allowing for a wide-ranging, sometimes surprising, analysis of the nature and geographic distribution of the casualties and their impact.
Tom Burnell will introduce his Irish Great War Dead Archive, the culmination of 20 years of research and collaboration, now freely available online. For more information on individual talks click on the talk titles below.
Association Football in Maryborough/ Portlaoise, 1905-1965 by James Bennett – July 2 at 9pm.
Finding Ogle: The Story of the Disappearing Workhouse Master by David Broderick – July 9 at 7pm.
Irish Civil War Fatality Project by John Dorney – July 16 at 7pm .
Laois: The Irish Revolution, 1912-1923 by Cormac Moore – July 23 at 7pm.
Remembering Our WWI War Dead: Irish Great War Dead Archive by Tom Burnell – July 30 at 7pm.
SEE ALSO – Remembering Portlaoise AFC’s incredible 1991 FAI Cup run
