With social and other activities now seriously restricted across the island, I reckon a rolling calendar of online events is needed. The great thing about online events is that family, local and social historians who live further afield can join in, learn and enjoy many of the tours, exhibitions, podcasts, seminars and conferences lined up to help us get through these difficult times.
I'll be updating this listing at least twice a month.
Thursday 22 October
'I had a mouthful of steel': Cumann na mBan, militancy and gendered violence, 1919-1921. The Centenary Lecture Series. Host: Cavan Library Service. Online 7:30pm at www.cavanlibrary.ie and Facebook.com/CavanLibrary. Free. No booking.
Thursday 22 October
'From Turmoil to Truce: Photographs of the War of Independence'. A guided online tour of this NLI Photographic Archive Exhibition, with Maeve Casserly and Brid O'Sullivan. Hosts: Clare County Library and Clare Decade of Centenaries History Week. Free. 11am on Zoom. Register for tour at decadeofcentenaries@clarecoco.ie
Friday 23 October
'Social Life in Clare during the War of Independence’, a radio-type broadcast by Rita McCarthy focussing on news from around Clare in 1920. This podcast will be available on Clare County Library’s Youtube channel from 11am. Free. A Decade of Centenaries History Week event.
Saturday 24 October
Exploring Irish Ancestry, a full day, online seminar hosted by the Genealogical Society of Queensland. 9:30am to 4:30pm AEST (GMT+10), followed by Q&A at 5:30pm. Speakers are: Pauleen Cass, Dr Jennifer Harrison, Cathie Sherwood, Helen V. Smith, John Grenham and Chris Paton. Prices: $60 (GSQ/QFHS Member) and $75 (Non-Member). Download brochure. Book here.
Monday 26 October
Misbehaving Ministers & Promiscuous Presbyterians – Sexuality and Social Control in the Presbyterian Archive c. 1717-1830, with Dr Leanne Calvert. Hosted on Zoom by PRONI and the Ulster Society of Irish Historical Studies (USIHS). Free. 7pm to 8:30pm. Need to register.
Thursday 29 October
How to use PRONI's ecatalogue and other applications, a PRONI Virtual Workshop. 12:30–13:30. Free. Places limited so book early to confirm your spot.
Friday 30 October
Apple-tricks and Summer-set: Irish Words and Stories of Hallowe'en, with Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh and Gregory Toner (authors of A History of Ireland in 100 Words). Hosted by the Linen Hall Library. Free. 7pm to 8pm. Presented on Zoom. Need to register.
Monday 2 November
Kevin Barry: An Irish Rebel in life and death, with Professor Eunan O'Halpin. A Live zoom event, and part of the Linen Hall Library Archives Series. 7pm-8pm. Free. Booking required.
Tuesday 3 November
Ireland in 1920, a 6-week series of interactive online classes, with Dublin Historian, Cormac Moore. Hosted by Dublin City Council Decade of Commemorations Programme. Starts 3 November at 7pm. Free. Registration required by email to commemorations@dublincity.ie.
Saturday 7 November
Bloody Sunday; A Bitter Legacy or A Legacy of Bitterness, with John Flannery. Host: Tipperary Museum of Hidden History's 8th Annual Lecture Series. Free podcast will be published on website, here.
Thursday 19 November
Exploring Victorian Belfast: People, Place and History, an afternoon online conference to mark the publication of Middle-Class Life in Victorian Belfast by Alice Johnson. 2pm to 4pm. Speakers include Sean Connolly, Robert Heslip and Alice Johnson. Will be held on Zoom. Free. Full details of the talks and booking.
Thursday 19 November
Word Choice and Religion in Early Modern Ireland, with Professor John McCafferty. An online presentation hosted by the Ulster Society of Irish Historical Studies and PRONI. 7pm Zoom meeting. Free. Need to register.
Wednesday 25 November
‘Not in my backyard’: Child Welfare, the Poor Law, and Social Surveillance in Late Nineteenth-century Belfast, with Dr Olwen Purdue. An online presentation on Zoom, hosted by the Trinity Centre for Contemporary Irish History Research Seminar Series in partnership with Trinity Long Room Hub. 4pm start, followed by Q&A at 4:45pm. Free. Details.
Saturday 5 December
The I.R.A. in Great Britain, 1913-1923, with Darragh Gannon. Host: Tipperary Museum of Hidden History's 8th Annual Lecture Series. Free podcast will be published on website, here.