Many 2012 programmes have yet to be published so the listing of January events below may well expand over the course of the month. I’ll post any extras as and when I hear of them. For now, the diary looks pretty good, with a nice mix of lectures covering local and national social and family history themes.
All month: Titanic Exhibition, Terenure Library, Dublin 6. Free. Open during normal library hours.
Tuesday 3 January: The Irish Navvy, with Joe Kelly. Ballinascreen Historical Society. Venue: The Rural College, Derrynoid, Draperstown, Co Derry. 8.30pm.
Monday 9 January: Recent excavations at Claregalway, with Brian Mac Domhnaill. Galway Archealogical & Historical Society. Harbour Hotel, The Docks, Galway. 8pm. Details: gahs@eircom.net.
Tuesday 10 January: Portadown Foundry, with Caldwell McClure. Craigavon Historical Society. Civic Centre, Craigavon, 7.45pm.
Wednesday 11 January: The War of Independence – Four glorious years or squalid sectarian conflict? Another
History Ireland Hedge School, promising provocative and interactive debate, with David Fitzpatrick and Eve Morrison (both TCD), John M Regan (University of Dundee) and John Borgonova (UCC). Editor Tommy Graham in the chair. All welcome and no booking required. 7pm National Library of Ireland, Kildare St, Dublin.
Friday 13 January: Loyalist or Royalist? Identity in Loyalist Murals, with Bill Rolston, Director of Transitional Justice Institute. 1pm to 2pm. Free. No booking required. Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast. 0845 608 0000.
Wednesday 18 January: Ballyraggot in the newspapers, with Seamus Brennan. Kilkenny Archaeological Society. Rothe House, Parliament St, Kilkenny. 8pm. Details: 056 772 2893.
Monday 23 January: Obama’s Irish Relatives, with Professor Brian Walker. Donaghadee Historical Society. Donaghadee Sailing Club, 20 Shore Street. Co. Down. £2, including tea and biscuits. All welcome.Details: 028 9188 4790.
Wednesday 25 January: Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases - Medical and health records at PRONI, with David Huddleston. Linen Hall Library, Belfast. 1pm. Free. Booking essential at www.linenhall.com.
Thursday 26 January: How the Titanic touched my family, with Martina Devlin. Titanic Lecture Series. Can visit Titanic Exhibition at the Transport Museum from 6pm, prior to the lecture. Rail Gallery in the Indoor Transport Museum, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. 7.30 to 8.30pm. Free, but must book: 028 9042 8428.
Thursday 26 January: Crime – Exploring Local History Lecture Series, with Dr Janice Holmes, Dr Olwen Purdue and Dr Barry Sheen from OUI and with PRONI staff presenting examples from collections. Venue: PRONI, Titanic Quarter, Belfast. 6.30pm to 8pm. Free but booking required at proni@dcalni.gov.uk.
Thursday 26 January: Local archives and memorabilia with special emphasis on war medals. Strabane Historical Society. Stabane Library. 7.30pm. Details: 028 7188 3686.
Friday 27 January: A nostalgic look at the Linen Industry, part of the Take 30 series of digital film presentations. Killyleagh Library, Killyleagh, Co Down. 1.15 to 1.45pm. Free. No booking necessary. Details: 028 4482 8407.
Saturday 28 January: The Planter and the Gael: Explorations in Irish Ethnic History. Lecture with Liam Kennedy, Professor of Economic and Social History at Queen’s University, Belfast, reflecting on the role of ethnicity and relations between native and newcomer in Irish history since the early 17th century. Venue: The Mellon Centre for Migration Studies at the Ulster American Folk Park, Belfast, 11am to 2.30pm, £12 includes refreshments and finger buffet lunch.
Monday 30 January: Beginners Irish genealogy course starts at Malahide Community School, with Claire Bradley. €110 for ten weeks. Enrolment is on Tuesday 24 January for those who wish to discuss course in advance.
Monday 30 January: Team Sports in East Tyrone 1884-1934, with Donal McAnallen. Stewartstown & District Local History Society. Crieve Centre, The Square, Stewartstown. 8pm. All welcome.