Alf Monaghan’s presentation looks at the history of early Irish Christianity from a different perspective – a Mediterranean perspective. It provides a tantalizing glimpse under the veil of history. It asks many questions and confounds some of the accepted theories about the history of early Christianity in Ireland. It traces links with ancient Egypt, connects Irish monasticism with the Desert Fathers and the early Irish Church with the Coptic Church.

ALF MONAGHAN
Historical Society Member Alf Monaghan from Carrick-on-Shannon has spent more than 30 years living and working abroad.

After a career in the food industry in the UK, he spent a decade with Enterprise Ireland, developing Ireland’s export and investment activities in Northern Europe. Since then, he has been an advisor on economic development in the Mediterranean, Middle East, South and West Africa and in the Caribbean.

His last 10 years have been in the Middle East where he has spent time in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. Always interested in history, his time in Syria and Egypt in particular sparked off a deeper interest in early Christianity and the links and influences between this area and Ireland – many of which are now ‘lost’ or ‘forgotten’ For him, living in Damascus was like stepping into the Bible.

He believes recent Irish discoveries such as the Fadden More Psalter are clues pointing to a more substantial Eastern Mediterranean influence in early Irish Christianity than has been acknowledged to date.

Public talk, Thursday 23 February 2012

Bush Hotel Carrick-on-Shannon 7pm-9pm

Chair: Tom Lavin, Leitrim Development Company

Dr. Finbarr Brereton and Dr. Craig Bullock of UCD will discuss the results of a study on how people perceive their quality of life in Leitrim and rural Ireland, including economic prospects, migration, local amenities, housing, planning and the environment.

We will make comparisons with the more recent data showing how quality of life in Ireland now compares with other EU states and inviting the audience to comment on the current situation.

The UCD School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Policy & UCD Earth Institute

For details call 96 68998 or craig.bullock@ucd.ie

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Have you ever completed research into your family tree before?

Are you aware of your own family history? Can you please outline the surnames within your family if known?

What level of computer experience do you have?

The course will involve some week day and Saturday day trips; will this be suitable for you? (Please refer to outline for dates)

Have you any dietary requirements?

How did you hear about this course?

Wednesday sessions will take place at St. Mary’s Secondary School, Brollagh from 7.30pm to 9.30pm

Wednesday 7th March 2012
The importance of Birth, Marriages and Deaths
Using Administrative Divisions
How to fill out a Family Tree

Wednesday 14th March 2012
Using Census Material to find your ancestors

Wednesday 21st March 2012
Using Griffiths Valuation and Census substitutes
Finding records for your local area

Wednesday 28th March 2012
Using Church Records to find your family

Saturday 31st March 2012 – Meet at 1pm
Visiting Graveyards to find family history information

Wednesday 11th April 2012 – Trip to Belfast
Research visit to GRONI and PRONI.
We will leave North Leitrim / West Fermanagh at 8am and return at approximately 9pm.

Wednesday 18th April 2012
Using free online resources
Breaking down your brick walls
Using Genealogy software and recording the source of your information

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
Using commercial online resources
Finding your family’s military history and your migrant ancestors
Using local newspapers

Week beginning Monday 14th May 2012
Visits to local libraries – Ballinamore and Enniskillen
What family history records are available?

Wednesday 30th May 2012
What are the origins of your surname?
Sharing of family history research

Tuesday 5th June 2012 – Trip to Dublin
Research visit to General Register Office Research Room and National Archives.
We will leave North Leitrim / West Fermanagh at 7.30am and return at approximately 10pm.

“That in view of the widespread concern being expressed both at home and abroad that the process involved can pose a serious threat to public health,the environment and the geological structures of the areas where it takes place Leitrim Community Forum calls on the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to ensure that no hydraulic fracturing or any similar process be undertaken by parties to whom licences to explore for minerals have been granted unless and until a report is provided to the Minister on behalf of the leading geological experts in the state indicating that the fears so expressed in regard to each of these mattetrs are proven to be groundless”

Leitrim athletes won two medals at the AVIVA Connacht Schools Cross Country Championships held in wet and heavy conditions at St Mary’s College, Galway, yesterday.  Dearbhaile Beirne of Mohill Community College won the Minor Girls Title and Eilish O Dowd of Ballinamore Post Primary School was runner up in the Junior Girls Championship. Other Leitrim athletes to qualify for the All Ireland at the same venue on Saturday March 10th were Ryan O Rourke of Ballinamore PPS who finished tenth in the Junior Boys race, Elise Bruen of Carrick on Shannon Community School who finished thirteenth in the Minor Girls race, Martin Feeney of St Clare’s, Manorhamilton, who finished fourteenth in the Junior Boys race and Joanne Feeney of St Clare’s who was also fourteenth in the Senior Girls’ race.