Annual Report

County Louth Archaeological and History Society

Annual ReportAuthor(s): Noel RossSource: Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society, Vol. 17, No. 1 (1969), pp. 54-56Published by: County Louth Archaeological and History SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27729209 .

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annual Report

Membership During the year we welcomed thirty-four new members to the Society : Patrick F. McCourt,

Mrs. Patrick F. McCourt, Mrs. G. O'Reilly, James Gregory, Bernard Rafferty, Mrs. Concepta Dolan, Mrs. Teresa Cooney, Mrs. P. J. McCloskey, Rev. P. J. Campbell, Paul Mulkerins, Mrs. Margaret

Shepherd, W. K. Allen, Mrs. Margaret Shells, Monaghan County Library, Cavan County Library, New University of Ulster Library, Peter McDonald, Rev. Thomas Mallon, Vincent Duffy, Robert

Patton, Patrick Beahan, Derek McDonnell, Mrs. K. Woods, Miss Una McDowell, John Matthews, University College Library, Galway; Cornell University Library, Gerard Murphy, Patrick Quinn, University College Library, Cork ; Michael Reynolds, Gerard Watson, Liam O'Reilly and Mrs. Maud Kieran. One member resigned, four were deemed to have lapsed and six were taken from us by death. These last were: Mr. Gabriel Magrath, a member since 1934 and of the Council for nearly thirty years; Very Rev. H. W. Rennison, a member since 1942; Mrs. H. McSweeney, since 1946;

Miss E. A. McGee, since 1948 ; Very Rev. Edward Feran, since 1952 and Miss M. Cassidy, since 1959. Membership at the end of the year stood at 285, made up as follows: Honorary Members, 2; Life

Members, 15 ; and Members, 268.

Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting was held in the Technical School, Drogheda on February 27th

with the President, Fr. Mac Iomhair, in the chair. A proposal to add an Irish form to the title of the Society gave rise to considerable discussion and was eventually deferred.

Lectures

A varied programme of lectures was held and attendances generally were quite good. Our thanks are returned to all those who addressed us during the year. Details of the five lectures held are as follows:

" Our Heritage of Folk Music," by Michael O'Ceallachain, in St. Vincent's

School, Dundalk on January 2nd; "

Louth, the Capital of Oriel," by Rev. Denis Faul, in the Parochial Hall, Louth on March 27th;

" Termonfechin in History," by Very Rev. P. Canon

McKevitt, in the Parochial Hall, Termonfechin on October 27th; "

The Emergence of the National

System of Education in Mid-Louth," by Harold O'Sullivan in the Parochial Hall, Dunleer on November 27th; and

" Family Names," by Brendan Adams, in St. Vincent's School, Dundalk

on December 8th,

Excursions

The annual excursion on July 31st visited South Down and the Mourne Country, with Mr. Roger Weatherup, Curator of Armagh County Museum, as our very capable guide. Fifty-seven members and friends took part in what proved to be a most interesting and enjoyable day, with

glorious weather, mountain and sea all contributing their share. The afternoon tour of Ardee

on June 2nd was not so fortunate ; despite a morning of continuous rain about forty persons were

shown the various historic sites in the town and neighbourhood by Fr. Mac Iomhair. The Kildare Archaeological Society visited Monasterboice and South Louth in July, with

Mr. Jim Garry as guide. Mr. Harold O'Sullivan conducted a tour of Carlingford for members of the Old Drogheda Society in June.

Journal Volume XVI of the Journal was completed with the publication of the 1968 issue in September.

Revenue from sales of back numbers was again buoyant, providing a source of income which

offsets to some extent the ever-increasing cost of printing. Were it not for this income an increase in the annual subscription would be a necessity. Details of back numbers still available may be found on the back cover of the Journal.

54



ANNUAL BEPORT 55

Gravestone Inscriptions Since the last report the inscriptions in Stickillen, Shanlis, Smarmore, Kildemock and

Newtown Stalaban have been transcribed ; a booklet containing the inscriptions in Urney has been

published; and work has commenced on the indexing of the material for Castletown and St.

Nicholas's, Dundalk. Members willing to assist in this project are requested to contact the

Honorary Secretary.

Surname Survey Our Society is co-operating with the Ulster Folk Museum in what will be the most compre

hensive survey of surnames yet undertaken in Ireland. The Survey, which is based on the 1963 Electoral Register, will cover Counties Louth and Leitrim, in addition to the nine Ulster counties.

Souterrain and Cist Burials

Early in April E.S.B. workmen engaged in re-siting a pole in the townland of Drumbilla broke into a souterrain. The discovery was reported to Fr. Mac Iomhair and work suspended pending investigation. Mr. Peter Danaher, Director of the Archaeological Survey, visited the site ; at his

request the pole was moved several yards and the souterrain closed. In May cist burials discovered

at Stephenstown were examined by Miss Ellen Prendergast of the National Museum.

An Taisce At a meeting in Drogheda in February, jointly sponsored by our Society, a County Louth

branch of An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, was formed. The aim of An Taisce?the conservation of our physical heritage?is complementary to our own and we are assured of

co-operation in matters of mutual interest. The Secretary of the branch, Miss Anne O'Brien,

41 Lawrence Street, Drogheda, will be glad to hear from an}^one interested in becoming a member.

Council Meetings The business of the Society was transacted at ten Council meetings, of which four were held

in Ardee and three each in Drogheda and Dundalk. Our thanks are due to those who facilitate us so readily on these occasions.

Annual Elections

Eighty-nine valid ballot papers were received for the annual elections ; the results are shown on another page.

Members are again reminded that they have the right to nominate candidates for election to the Council. Such nominations should be sent to the Honorary Secretary before December ist.

Amenities and Development A survey commissioned by the Eastern Regional Tourism Organisation, Ltd. was published

recently under the title, "

Tourism in Ireland?East ; Guide-lines for Development/' This survey, which received wide publicity in the local press, lays considerable emphasis on historical and

archaeological sites, particularly in the Carlingford area. The Society is represented on the committee formed to implement the findings of the report.

Work is expected to begin shortly on the provision of a car park and other amenities at Monasterboice. The improvement of the access to Saint Mochta's House, Louth, is also being actively pursued.

General

All members are requested to bring the activities of the Society to the notice of their friends and acquaintances, to invite them to lectures and excursions, and to introduce new members

to the Society. Noel Ross

February, iqjo Honorary Secretary



COUNTY LOUTH ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR 1969

Receipts

Balance in Deposit Account Balance in Current Account Transferred from Post Office

Spring Lecture Louth

Lecture

..

Termonfeckin Lecture

Dunleer Lecture Dundalk

Lecture

Rent?Muckross House

Dividend,

Exchequer

Stock

Surplus on Excursions

Sale of Booklets Subscriptions

for 1965?1

do. 1966?1

do. 1967?4

do. 1968?17

do. 1969?205 do.

1970?9 .. do.

1971?1 ..

Interest on Deposit Account Transferred from Post Office

? s.

d.

210 o o 28 4 o 30 o o

500

5

15

6

11

5 5 3 7 65

o 5 15 o

9 4 7

2 1 1 4 17 207

9 1

o o o o I 10 10

327 9 7 ?945 13 9

Expenditure ? s.

Postal Expenses (Hon. Secretary) for 1968 8 14

1967 Journal?Tempest .. .. 250 o

Faughart Tombstone Inscriptions .. 135 o

Insurance?Muckross House .. 50

Hon. Secretary's Expenses for 1969 .. 33 16

Head Rent?Muckross .. .. 6 10 o Insurance?Books and Blocks .. 200 Democrat?Castletown Patron .. 1 16 o Lecture?Mr. B. Adams .. .. 5 5 0

Cheque Book . . . . .. 063 Bank Charge .. .. 1 10 o

Hon. Treasurer's Expenses .. 4 12 o 1968 Journal?Tempest . . .. 296 o o

Balance on Deposit Account, 31/12/1969 166 2 6

Balance on Current Account .. 29 1 8

?945 13 9

James Jordan, P.C., Honorary Treasurer



Documents

Annual Report