Jimmy Robinson and Athy's C.Y.M.S.
In February 2007 some minute books and other books relating to the Catholic Young Mens Society in Athy were given to me by Jimmy Robinson. Jimmy was the last Honorary Secretary of the C.Y.M.S., a...
View ArticleStafford Brothers and World War I
Within two months of the start of World War I Edward Stafford, formerly of Butler’s Row, Athy was killed. He was just 27 years of age when he died on Thursday 24th September 1914. He was survived by...
View ArticleJoey Carbery Irish Rugby International
Irish rugby has a new sporting hero. Joey Carbery made his international debut on the Irish rugby team last week during Ireland’s first win over New Zealand. The Soldier’s Field in Chicago was the...
View ArticleAthy's Association Football Club
‘Athy town lifted the League Shield for the first time in the club’s history with a 5-1 victory over Coill Dubh’. Under the banner headline ‘Five Star Athy lift League Shield’ last week’s Nationalist...
View ArticleThe early history of Athy's Workhouse
The first meeting of the Board of Guardians of the Athy Union was held in the Courthouse, Athy on Thursday, 29thApril 1841 (the Court room at that time was located in the Town Hall). Present at that...
View ArticleSir Roger Casement
August 3rd marks the 100th anniversary of the execution of Roger Casement in Pentonville Prison, England. As a student many years ago in the Kings Inns I passed every day on my way into lectures John...
View ArticleMemorial, plaques and signs in and around South Kildare
Kildare County Council has recently embarked on a survey of memorials, plaques and signs throughout the County of Kildare. They are part of our cultural heritage, marking as they do people of the...
View ArticleLocal history research
I have had a lifelong fascination with reference books. From an early age these compendiums of facts and figures fascinated me. Haydn’s Dictionary of dates was one such book and although last...
View ArticleLocal benefactors to Athy's Christian Brothers
During the week I received a query relating to Mark Hill from County Clare, a Christian Brother whose teaching career ran from the late 1860s to 1919 when he died. His name was not familiar to me and...
View ArticleDanny Flood
One of the great sporting heroes of my teenage years passed away last week. Danny Flood was one of several young Athy men who lined out with the Kildare County Senior football team during the 1950s...
View ArticleThe role of the local authority in the ecomonic, social and cultural...
The role and functions of local authorities have evolved and changed enormously over the years. Borough Councils were brought into existence, usually by royal charters, as in Athy, where the 1515...
View ArticleDanny Kane and Mary Fleming
Danny Kane and Mary Fleming came from a similar rural background in South Kildare. Danny was from Oldgrange, while Mary was from the nearby townland of Fontstown. In age they were a generation apart...
View Article1916 in Athy
1916 was a difficult year for the town of Athy. The Great War had entered its third year and there was no sign of it ending. The patriotic fervour and martial ardour that greeted the outbreak of war...
View ArticleTour of World War I sites in Flanders
Last week I travelled to Belgium with a group of local historians from Northern Ireland and from the Republic to visit sites associated with the Great War. The human evidence of the tragedies of that...
View Article2016 Shackleton Autumn School
The October Bank Holiday weekend will see many overseas visitors arriving in Athy for the Shackleton Autumn School. Now in its 16th year the school brings together international and Irish polar...
View ArticleJimmy Robinson and Athy's C.Y.M.S.
In February 2007 some minute books and other books relating to the Catholic Young Mens Society in Athy were given to me by Jimmy Robinson. Jimmy was the last Honorary Secretary of the C.Y.M.S., a...
View ArticleStafford Brothers and World War I
Within two months of the start of World War I Edward Stafford, formerly of Butler’s Row, Athy was killed. He was just 27 years of age when he died on Thursday 24th September 1914. He was survived by...
View ArticleJoey Carbery Irish Rugby International
Irish rugby has a new sporting hero. Joey Carbery made his international debut on the Irish rugby team last week during Ireland’s first win over New Zealand. The Soldier’s Field in Chicago was the...
View ArticleAthy's Association Football Club
‘Athy town lifted the League Shield for the first time in the club’s history with a 5-1 victory over Coill Dubh’. Under the banner headline ‘Five Star Athy lift League Shield’ last week’s Nationalist...
View ArticleThe early history of Athy's Workhouse (1)
Whenever I travel abroad I am invariably attracted to local markets. They are generally of interest to visitors as well as being part of the long established local commercial activity of their...
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