The Drogheda Civic Trust is to host a seminar in St. Peter’s Church of Ireland Hall, Peter Street, Drogheda on Saturday, April 22 to recall the Irish Civil War and to commemorate three Drogheda men who were killed in battle but have since been forgotten in their home town.
The three Drogheda men were Hugh Thornton of Peter Street, Michael Woods of Nun’s Walk, and Patrick Breen from the Windmill Road who, as members of the new National Army were killed in County Cork during that sad conflict but are forgotten today in their native Drogheda.
The seminar is open to the public with a welcome to all who wish to attend. Three speakers will discuss the Irish Civil War under various headings and the stories of the three local men will be outlined.
Programme
- 10: 00 am – Welcome
- 10:15 am – Lt-Col Stephen Mc Eoin. “Lest we Remember; Commemorating the National Army Civil War Dead in Ireland.”
- 11:00 am – Liz Gillis – “The Fight for Dublin”
- 12: 00 noon – Sean Collins – “Drogheda, recalling the Irish Civil War “
- 12: 30 pm – Q+A Session.
- 1:00 pm – Light Lunch
- 2:00 pm – town walk highlighting local links with the Irish Civil War. Led by members of the Organisation of National Ex-servicemen, Slane Branch. Route: Peter Street via – Magdalene Street – Scarlet Street– Thomas Street – Cord Road – William Street – Fair Street , concluding at the Punt, Fair Street.
- Speakers
Speakers
Lt-Colonel Stephen Mac Eoin
Lt- Colonel Stephen Mac Eoin was enlisted into the Army as an Officer Cadet in 1999. Attending University under the Army’s USAC scheme, he was awarded a double First in French and History from NUI, Galway (2006) and later an MA in Archives Management from UCD (2008).
As both archivist and Army Officer, he has been actively involved in heritage and commemoration projects within the Defence Forces since 2007, most recently serving as Officer in Charge (Director) of the Military Archives. A member of the National Archives Advisory Council, he has led the delivery of several key archival projects informing recent historiography, including notably the digitisation of the Bureau of Military History (1913-1921) Collection and served for an extended period on the Interdepartmental Committee overseeing the phased release of the Military Service Pensions Collection.
Liz Gillis
Liz Gillis is from the Liberties in Dublin and is the author of six books on the Irish Revolution including ‘The Fall of Dublin’, ‘Women of the Revolution’ and ‘The Hales Brothers and the Irish Revolution’. She lectures at Champlain College Dublin and is the South Dublin County Council Historian in Residence for the Decade of Centenaries.
Sean Collins M.A.
Local history writer and broadcaster.
This seminar is hosted by The Drogheda Civic Trust with the support of the Decade of Centenaries Programme and Louth County Council. Patrons: Councillor Michelle Hall, Mayor of Drogheda, Councillor Pio Smith.
“When Liam Lynch, the leader of the Anti-Treaty IRA, was killed in action in April 1923, his successor Frank Aiken, at the urging of civilian republicans under Eamon de Valera, called a ceasefire and then in May 1923 ordered their remaining fighters to ‘dump arms’ and return home – effectively ending the war. No surrender was called however and no formal end to the war was ever negotiated.”
