Irish Historic Towns Atlas Annual Seminar - 24 May

The Irish Historic Towns Atlas Annual Seminar will be held on Friday 24 May, the second of three annual events to explore the workings of the Irish Historic Towns Atlas. The latter is a project established in 1981 to record the development of a selection of Irish towns of varying sizes and is part of a wider European scheme, with town atlases containing broadly similar information being produced for a number of countries. The Irish towns covered can, therefore, be studied in a European context.

Each seminar compares towns from a chronological and interdisciplinary perspective, and this year's focus will be on towns with Anglo-Norman, Gaelic and Plantation origins.

Here's a brief overview of the towns to be covered (I have not included all sessions):

• Anglo-Norman towns based on Gaelic monastic sites (Downpatrick, Kells, Kildare, Kilkenny Irishtown), with Cóilín Ó Drisceoil
• Anglo-Norman towns based on castles (Athlone, Carlingford, Carlow, Carrickfergus, Fethard, Kilkenny, Hightown, Mullingar and Trim), with Margaret Murphy
• Anglo-Norman towns focused on coastal and riverine trading activity (Dublin, Dundalk, Limerick), with Andy Halpin
• Demonstration of Digital atlas of Derry~Londonderry, with Keith Lilley
• Gaelic townships in the middle ages (Cavan, Ennis, Longford, Tuam, Sligo), with Brian Ó Dálaigh
• Colonial towns (Belfast, Carrickfergus, Derry~Londonderry), with Nick Brannon
• Plantation towns (Armagh, Bandon), with Annaleigh Margey

The day will culminate with the launch by Professor Rosemary Sweet of Maps and texts: exploring the Irish Historic Towns Atlas, edited by H.B. Clarke and Sarah Gearty.

Venue: Academy House, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2.

Everyone is welcome to attend. There is no registration fee for this seminar, but your need to email to secure your place ('Seminar' in subject line). Details.