Available Speakers

List of Available Speakers

The County Kildare Federation of Local History Groups maintains a list of speakers who are available to give talks to local history groups/societies in the County Kildare area. The speakers contact details and the topics of their talks are listed below.

Short Notice Talks

The Kildare County Archives and Local Studies have expressed their willingness to provide local history groups with talks at short notice if a booked speaker becomes unavailable. A wide range of locally specific and county related talks can be availed of from historians Mario Corrigan and James Durney, as well as genealogist and county archivist, Karel Kiely.

Contact:
Kildare County Archives and Local Studies
Kildare Library Services,
Harbour,
Naas,
Co. Kildare

Website: https://kildarecoco.ie/library/KildareCountyArchivesandLocalStudies/
E-mail: localhistorykildarecoco.ie
Telephone:
045 448351
Mobile: 087 9871046
(Office hours Tues-Sat)

Page last updated: 20 April 2023.
 

The following members of groups affiliated to the federation have indicated that they are available to give talks to other Co. Kildare groups.

James Durney

Subject:

Notes:
Kildare and the Spanish Civil War Illustrated talk
Irishmen in Korea Illustrated talk
From Kildare to Korea Illustrated talk
Irishmen in Vietnam Illustrated talk
Irish gangsters in America Illustrated talk
The killing of Lt.Wogan Browne Illustrated talk
Forgotten Kildare POWs of WWII Illustrated talk
The Curragh internment camps Illustrated talk
Social Housing in Naas Illustrated talk
Social housing in Newbridge Illustrated talk
Kildare people onboard the Titanic Illustrated talk
The Quiet Man. NYPD detective Peter Daly Illustrated talk
The Gauls of Rathasker Road, Naas Illustrated talk
The Lockout and its effect in Kildare Illustrated talk
The War of Independence in Kildare Illustrated talk
The Civil War in Kildare Illustrated talk
Contact details: Ph: 085-1443998 email: james.durneyyahoo.ie
 
James Durney & Liam Kenny

Subject:

Notes:
The Sabbath disturbed … Kildare and the Curragh Mutiny 1914 Talk
Contact details: James Durney Ph: 085-1443998  email: james.durneyyahoo.ie

Contact details:
Liam Kenny Ph: 087-2872704  email: liamkenny99gmail.com
 
Larry Breen

Subject:

Notes:
The Life and Times of Dan Donnelly – Pugilist Extraordinaire Illustrated talk
The Rebel’s Wife – Matilda Tone Illustrated talk
Arbour Hill and the Fighting Irish Illustrated talk
History of Canal Boats – Recollections & Reflections Illustrated talk
Contact details: Ph:045 897 445 Mobile: 087 984 1551 email: Larrybreen8outlook.com
 
A.J. Mullowney

Subject:

Notes:
Kildare Town History Illustrated talk
Kildare Town Walking tour of the cathedral and town
Civil War Executions, Kildare 1922 Illustrated talk
The Curragh Plains – Past, Present and Future Illustrated talk
Curragh Plains Walking Tour
St. Brigid Talk
Old Kilcullen, Moone, Castledermot, Mullaghmast Tour – bus or car. Groups arrange transport
Historic Videos of the Army Video presentation
Contact details: Ph:045-522140 email: ajmullgmail.com
 
Liam Kenny

Subject:

Notes:
Wheel & Keel Transport History of Co. Kildare; Road, Rail, & Canal – Illustrated talk
A genuine Irish row Kildare’s First Local Elections 1899 – Illustrated talk
Bullets and Ballots Kildare County Council and the War of Independence 1919-21 -Illustrated talk
Contact details: Ph: 087-2872704 email: liamkenny99gmail.com
 
Kevin Kenny

Subject:

Notes:
Lillywhites on Ice An illustrated talk on Polar exploration and the Kildare connections
Get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton An illustrated talk on Co. Kildare born Polar explorer Earnest Shackleton
Contact details: Ph: 045-895191 email: kevinkennyhotmail.com
 
Brendan Cullen

Subject:

Notes:
Clongowes Wood College History of the School
Book of Kells Illustrated talk
High Crosses of Kildare Illustrated talk
Contact details: Ph: 045-861159
 
Gerry McCarthy

Subject:

Notes:
From Balyna to Burton Hall – Country Houses of Co. Kildare Illustrated talk
The Aerial Chariot – Historic sites and monuments of North Leinster Illustrated talk
Forgotten Heritage of Kildare Illustrated talk
Borrowes Family of Gilltown Illustrated talk
The Heritage of North Kildare Illustrated talk
In Search of the Mausoleums of Ireland Illustrated talk
The Eustaces of Co. Kildare Illustrated talk
Fitzwilliams of Coollattin house and the Kennedy connection Illustrated talk
The Heritage of South Kildare Illustrated talk
Contact details: Ph: 045-879108 email: geralddmccarthygmail.com
 
Brian Mc Cabe

Subject:

Notes:
Surveying and Transcribing in Old Graveyards Talk
Dublin/Kilcullen Toll Road Illustrated talk
Celtic Times (1887) History of the periodical
Palmerstown and its colourful owners Illustrated talk
Dear Miss B – a collection of Edwardian postcards Illustrated talk
Contact details: Ph: 045-894412 email: brianfrancis.mccabegmail.com
 
Paddy Behan

Subject:

Notes:
History of Naas Illustrated talk on the town
Naas Canal Illustrated talk
Naas Town Commission Talk
Contact details: Ph: 045-876365 email: pccbehaneircom.net
 
Ronnie Kinane

Subject:

Notes:
The Black Flu (1918) Talk
Contact details: Ph: 045-876254
 
Seamus Moore

Subject:

Notes:
Naas Gasworks and its People Talk
Contact details: Ph: 045-879241
 
Kay Brophy

Subject:

Notes:
History of Naas Racecourse Talk
Lyons and the Cloncurrys Talk
Contact details: Ph: 01-6272967
 
Liam Kenny & Brian McCabe

Subject:

Notes:
Lilywhites on the Veldt — the Boer War and Kildare Talk
The Battle of Waterloo Talk
Contact details: Liam Kenny Ph: 087-2872704  email: liamkenny99gmail.com

Contact details:
Brian McCabe Ph: 045-894412  email: mccabegmail.com
 
Collette Jordan

Subject:

Notes:
Servants in the Big House Talk
The role of Women in the Big House – 150 years of the Duchesses of Leinster Talk
History of New Abbey, Kilcullen Talk
Contact details: email: collettejordanireland.com
 
Jeanne Meldon

Subject:

Notes:
Celbridge, Maynooth and the Palace of Westminster: the legacy of A.W.N. Pugin Illustrated Talk
Contact details: email: jeanne.meldonwalshgmail.com
 
Ida Milne

Subject:

Notes:
Using Talk to find History: A User’s Guide to Oral History An overview of oral history
Stacking the coffins: the 1918-19 influenza pandemic in Ireland. Co. Kildare features heavily in this talk.
The Quiet corner back: Protestants and the GAA Talk
Mumps, measles and diarrhoea: Child health in 20th century Ireland Talk
Contact details: email: milnemtcd.ie
 
Neil Reid

Subject:

Notes:
A history of old stone and glassware bottles Talk
Contact details: email: Neilreid76gmail.com
 
John Malone

Subject:

Notes:
Richard Oulahan: forgotten Kildare Poet & Patriot Talk
Contact details: email: dubkilwexgmail.com
 

The following authors and academics not associated with member groups are also available for lectures in Co. Kildare.

Dr Gaye Ashford

Subject:

Notes:
The Letters of Mrs Katherine Conolly, 1707-1747 Illustrated talk exploring the life of Katherine of Castletown House as revealed through her letters.
History of Childhood in Ireland Wide-ranging illustrated talk touching upon many aspects of children’s lives including medicine, education, and play.
Contact details: email: gayeashfordgmail.com
 
Dr. Michael Christopher Keane

Subject:

Notes:
The Earl of Castlehaven of Maddenstown: A leader in the Catholic Confederacy uprising and resistance to Cromwell Illustrated talk based on the book ‘The Earls of Castlehaven’. There is a prominent County Kildare dimension to the story.
Contact details: email: m.keaneucc.ie
 
Rory O’Farrell

Subject:

Notes:
Fashion and Style at the Time of Jane Austen Illustrated Talk
Dublin 1760-1820 Illustrated Talk
Mrs Smith, a 19th century local diarist Illustrated Talk
The 19th Century, gateway to the modern world Illustrated Talk
Elizabethan Life Illustrated Talk
Giraldus Cambrensis, a mediaeval visitor to Kildare Illustrated Talk
The Mediaeval Bestiary Illustrated Talk
Contact details: Ph: 01 4582532 email: ofarrwrkiol.ie
 
Elizabeth Prendergast

Subject:

Notes:
Jubilee Nurses – the first community care nurses Talk
Contact details: email: elizabethprendergastartistgmail.com
 
Mary Muldowney

Subject:

Notes:
Irish Women and World War II Talk
Contact details: email: mmuldwnytcd.ie
 
Ray Bateson

Subject:

Notes:
Burial places of famous Irish people and of 1916 fatalities Talk
Contact details: email: irishgraveseircom.net
 
Brian McCarthy

Subject:

Notes:
The Garda Mutiny in Kildare barracks 1922 Talk
Contact details: Ph: 086 8100181
 
Pádraig Laffan

Subject:

Notes:
  Long talks Approx. Duration 1 hr
My life in Communications – From Morse code to Twitter Illustrated Talk
Ancient People and their Hilltop Monuments of Wicklow and Dublin Illustrated Talk
The Military Road in Wicklow Illustrated Talk
Prints and Pictures of South Co. Dublin Illustrated Talk
Dublin in the Days of Horses Illustrated Talk
Forges, Farriers and Smiths Illustrated Talk
Big Freeze Bad Harvest (The Desperate Fight to save the Harvest of 1946 and the Severe Winter of 1947) Illustrated Talk
Dublin Bay – From the Ford of the Hurdles to the Kish Light Illustrated Talk
Lord Anglesea’s Scandal (The true events that inspired R.L. Stevenson’s classic ‘Kidnapped’. Illustrated Talk

Subject:

Notes:
  Short Talks Approx. Duration half hour
The Pirates of The Muglins Illustrated Short Talk
The Escape of Red Hugh O’Donnell from Dublin Castle Illustrated Short Talk
The Celtic Oratory at Dún Laoghaire Illustrated Short Talk
The finding of the Great Deer Meglaceros Gigantus at Ballybetagh Bog Illustrated Short Talk
Early Dublin Drainage (Vital Developments to make a modern Capitol City) Illustrated Short Talk
Aircrash on Djouce Mountain 1946 Illustrated Short Talk
The Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 Illustrated Short Talk
Edward Chambre Hardman Liverpool’s Famous Photographer from Foxrock Illustrated Short Talk
Ancient Rock Art Illustrated Short Talk
The Jungfrau Railway Illustrated Short Talk
The Kilruddery Hunt – (The song and the story) Illustrated Short Talk
General Vallency (Much More than Military Engineer a Historian and collector) Illustrated Short Talk
The Bombing of the North Strand in 1941. (I was there) (The North Strand and other places Bombed in WW2.) Illustrated Short Talk
Contact details: Ph: 01 2895778 email: padraiglaffangmail.com
 
Dermot Meleady

Subject:

Notes:
The Lost Legacy of John Redmond Talk focusing on his life and times and the forgotten achievements of the IPP under his leadership
John Redmond and the Third Home Rule Bill 1912-1916 Talk focusing on the IPP’s struggle to have the Home Rule Bill passed through the British House of Commons, and the subsequent obstacles to its implementation
John Redmond and the Great War Talk examining Redmond’s motives in calling, first, for Irish nationalist support for the Allies in August 1914, and later, for Irish nationalist enlistment with the British forces in the Great War
John Redmond – What If? Could things have turned out differently for Home Rule and for Ireland in 1914, and, if so, under what conditions?
Contact details: Ph: 087 418 5282 email: dermeleadyyahoo.ie
 


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