Coleraine Historical Society marks 40th anniversary with local history conference

COLERAINE Historical Society is marking its 40th anniversary by hosting a one day local history conference.
It is taking place on Wednesday, May 8, in conjunction with the History Department at Ulster University.
The Preserving Local History in the Causeway Coast and Glens and Beyond conference will take place in I Block of the UU Coleraine Campus, from 9am-5pm, with a host of exciting panels in store. 
The keynote speaker is Professor Sean Connolly of Queen’s University Belfast who will explore ‘Colonel Colby’s Ireland.’
2024 also marks the 30th anniversary of its journal the Bann Disc and the conference will explore the enduring appeal of local history to academic and public audiences.
Delighted to be commemorating these significant milestones, Chairman of Coleraine Historical Society, Fiona Pegrum, said: “As Chair of Coleraine Historical Society, it is a pleasure to be involved in the organising of our very first conference in collaboration with Ulster University, to celebrate and preserve local history across the Causeway Coast.
“2024 is the 40th Anniversary of Coleraine Historical Society and the 30th Anniversary of the Bann Disc journal, so it is particularly fitting that we mark these auspicious dates.
“We approached Ulster University and they were very keen to be involved and take on the joint organising of the conference, including making available the fantastic Atrium at their Coleraine Campus, as the venue. We are very grateful to them for all their help and support.
“We are delighted to welcome a wide range of speakers and guests,including keynote speaker Professor Sean Connolly, Sarah Carson of Causeway Coast and Glens Museum Services and Dr. WIlliam Roulston of the Ulster Historical Foundation, and many others.
“We are also looking forward to welcoming representatives of the Maine Ulster-Scots group from the USA and the Rathmullan Heritage and Historical Society of County Donegal.
“We hope this will be the beginning of many mutually fruitful collaborations in future, celebrating and nurturing our local histories, wherever they may be.”

CONFERENCE TOPICS
Conference topics include:
l Local personalities and events.
l The landscape and the built environment
‘Localism’ in History: benefits and limitations.
l Conserving local history: museums, archives, and local history societies.
l The historiography of local history.
l The future of local history.

Five panels will explore this huge diversity of topics, including:   
Broadcaster Joe Mahon and Sarah Carson, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Museum Services Development Manager, will discuss ‘A View of Local History.’
Independent Historian Andrew Charles -  ‘T.G. Houston: Life and Achievements.’
William Roulston, Ulster Historical Foundation -  ‘Dr Brian Trainor: Coleraine man who believed in making archives accessible to all.’
Tom Black, UG Student - ‘Ballymoney in a time of Revolution.’
Angeline King, Writer and Independent Scholar -  ‘Agnew Hereditary Sheriffs and Hereditary Bards.’
Andrew Kane, Ulster Historical Foundation - ‘Local Townlands in the Seventeenth Century.’
Shannon Devlin, Ulster University - ‘The Taylor Family of Coleraine.’
Willa Murphy, Ulster University- ‘A Meeting with Matilda: Thomas Cather’s Voyage to America.’
  Dr Kyle Hughes, Ulster University - ‘Francis Turnly (1765-1845) of Cushendall.’
   
TICKETS

   Due to the NW200, it is advised to access the University campus from the Coleraine town.
Please email colerainehistorysociety@gmail.com for further information. For general enquiries contact Dr Kyle Hughes: k.hughes1@ulster.ac.uk
Tickets for the conference can be purchased at; https://riversidetheatre.ticketsolve.com/tic
ketbooth/shows/1173653723