Federation Seminar 2017 – 7th October 2017 – ‘1847’ –
Talk by Turtle Bunbury & Walking Tour of Celbridge
The Annual Seminar of the Co. Kildare Federation of Local History Groups will take place following the AGM. This year the Seminar is hosted by Celbridge Historical Society and will take place in Castletown House, Celbridge. From 11am all events are open to the public and free (excluding the cost of the optional lunch).
11.00 Tea/Coffee in The Hunt Room, Stable Wing, Castletown House
11.30 Address by Mayor of Kildare, Cllr. Martin Miley
11.45 Turtle Bunbury – 1847: a Chronicle of Genius, Generosity and Savagery .
Turtle Bunbury is the author of Vanishing Ireland and The Glorious Madness: tales of the Irish and the Great War. His most recent book is 1847: a Chronicle of Genius, Generosity and Savagery (Dublin: Gill 2016), in which he focuses on the historical events of a single year, 1847 – a revolutionary year that, in Turtle’s own words, ‘turned the world upside down’. In this globetrotting history he addresses everything from the trauma and horror of the Great Famine, to the showmanship of Lola Montez and Tom Thumb.
13.00 Lunch in the Slip Hall with film show – (lunch prepaid on day €15)
A stroll down the avenue of Castletown House (lifts will be available if required) to the wonderfully restored Slip Hall for a lunch of soup, sandwiches, dessert, and tea/coffee.
Short film clips by Celbridge Camera Club featuring drone images over the River Liffey, a walk through the rooms of Castletown House, and The Huguenots in Ireland will be shown during the lunch.
14.15 Guided Walking Tour of Celbridge – by Celbridge Historical Society
After lunch we will focus in on the local heritage of Celbridge, with a walking tour starting at 2.15pm at the Slip Hall (Behind Christchurch at the main gates of Castletown).
The tour includes visits to the following:
The Garden of Kildrought House;
The beautiful Kildrought House built c.1719 has a wonderful town garden which sweeps down to the River Liffey behind the Main Street.
Celbridge Abbey Grounds
(features include Vanessa’s Bower and the Liffey pedestrian bridge);
Tea Lane Cemetery
(including the Conolly Mausoleum; Maunsell Chapel; Grattan Monument)
Walk or lifts back to Celbridge House & Car park.
16.00 Optional Tour of Castletown House at discounted price of €5 for seminar attendees.
DIRECTIONS / ACCESS – Parking is available at Castletown House car park.
Access by car is through the gates off Barnhall Road only – the gates at Main Street Celbridge are for pedestrian/bicycle access only. Free car parking is available in the car park to the left of the road as you approach the house.
GPS/SAT NAV for Vehicle Access: 53.357877,-6.527574
