Medieval to modern Mullingar – well attended conference by WAHS on history of town
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At the WAHS conference (from left) Seamus O’Brien, Melanie McQuade, Myles Cosgrave, Ruth Illingworth, Frank Hynes, Paul Gosling, Roisin Gaffney, Sarah Gearty and Franc Myles.Image 2 of 3
Crime fiction writer Patricia Gibney addressed the seventh WAHS annual conference last week.Image 3 of 3
Traditional singer Roisin Gaffney performed at the WAHS conference.Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society’s seventh annual conference last weekend, focused the evolution of the urban entity which now comprises one of the country’s fastest growing provincial towns: Mullingar.
Keynote speakers included Sarah Gearty from the Royal Irish Academy; archaeologist Paul Gosling; and architectural historian Franc Myles.
All explored the early origins of Mullingar, the county town of Westmeath.
Veteran local historian Ruth Illingworth gave a tour de force survey of the changes wrought on the town’s long and winding Main Street over the last century.
The afternoon session took a different approach this year; creative artists Patricia Gibney and Roisin Gaffney shared their reflections on their respective crafts – crime fiction and traditional singing, both using Mullingar as the backdrop for their insights.
It was an interesting and successful conference and the society will continue to support and encourage awareness of the heritage issues pertaining to the community.