Westmeath history journal to launch next week

The new edition of Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society’s journal ‘Iarmhí’ will be launched on Wednesday of next week, December 14.

Performing the launch will be Dr Willie Nolan, emeritus professor of Geography at University College, Dublin and publisher of the hugely successful ‘History and Society’ series, the most recent edition of which covered Westmeath.

The launch of the 2022-23 edition of ‘Iarmhí’ will take place at the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar at 7.30pm on Wednesday next.

The journal contains two dozen articles by local specialists and historians from all the major universities. It is lavishly illustrated throughout with many of the images in colour.

Themes explored include the archaeological discoveries on the N52 between Mullingar and Delvin, silver and gold hoard finds at Lough Ennell, the Bardic poetry of south Westmeath, Argentinian connections to the Lake County, folklore, genealogy and literary history.

The Decade of Centenaries events are comprehensively scrutinised with original research by Dr Paul Hughes on the setting up of the Civic Guard (later An Garda Síochána) in Westmeath. Fr Paul Connell, PhD, presents an insightful analysis of the efforts to remember the dead of the Great War while weaving Westmeath’s involvement in this conflict into his narrative.

The journal is attractively presented with a beautiful image of ‘Market Day, Derravaragh’ by Erskine Nicol on the front cover. Edited by historian Seamus O’Brien, this publication will make an important contribution to the historiography of our county.

All are welcome to the launch on December 14.