The Society

Welcome to the website of The Edenderry Historical Society. The Society has led the promotion of the history of the town of Edenderry and the surrounding area since it's founding in 1979.

The society runs events to help preserve the history of the area, both the physical remains and the people's memories. It has a regular meeting once a month, 6-8 lectures a year, runs competitions, organises an annual weekend trip away and day trips during the summer.

Over the years the society has been heavily involved in Edenderry town's life. We invited the President Mary Robinson 1994 to formally unveil the informational plaque on the town hall, only the second time a president has visited Edenderry. The society was also involved in the organisation of the 1798 bi-centenary commemerations. See the section of the website about the societies history for more information.

The society has about 80 members.

Upcoming Events

22nd October 2010

Paddy Hughes will give a talk on the history of Bord na Mona at 8pm. It will be preceded by a society meeting at 7:30pm.

Members of the public are invited to attend. New members are always welcome.

Spring Events

21st May 2010

"Mary Duffy and the Catholic Daughters of America"

A lecture by Dr. Carol C. Clement about Mary Duffy will took place in the Parish Centre on the 21st May. Mary Duffy was a Superior Regent of the Catholic Daughters of America. Duffy was born in Edenderry in 1875 and was to the forefront of the Catholic Daughters of America in the early 20th century. In 1932 Mary Duffy was awarded a pontifical medal from the Pope. Dr. Clement who has written a history of the Catholic Daughters and the role of Mary Duffy was visiting Ireland and kindly offered to speak to the society.

May 18th to June 5th

Photographic Exhibition launch in Edenderry Library - "Through a Swedish Lens"

An exhibition presented by the National Folklore Collection in UCD. It illustrates the work of four Swedish ethnologists who visited Ireland 1920-1950. The exhibition will be on view from May 18th to June 5th at Edenderry Library.

Autumn/Winter Lecture Series 2009

The following lectures took place over the Autumn months.

18th September, Collette Jordan, 'The role of women in the Big House'

23rd October, Brian Casey, 'A dangerously clever man: Matt Harris and the Irish Land War'

20th November, Liam Kenny, 'Kildare Men and the Boer War 1899-1902'

Book Launch a Great Success

There was a large turnout for he book launch of "Images of Edenderry". The book is a compilation of photographs and their descriptions documenting Edenderry and it's people that has been put together by members of the Historical Society.

The launch was held on Friday 14th August in the Edenderry GAA Pavilion. The MC was Mr Séan Fitzgerald (speaking right), the principal of the local boys national school. He spoke of the impressive contribution made by the late Joe Reilly and Noel Whelan to the Historical Society and the community as a whole. The historical society chairperson Mrs Cherry Carter was next to speak and thanked Ciarán Reilly and his helpers for the huge amount of work put into developing the book, in particular Mairéad Evans who had the idea for the book, she also thanked the publishers, Nonsuch Publishing Ireland. The other speakers were the Cathaoirleach of the Offaly County Council Noel Burke and the Cathaoirleach of Edenderry Town Council Finian O'Neill, before Dr. Philip Brady gave the keynote speech to offically launch the book.

Sean FitzGerald who acted as M.C. for the night. Also on the platform are Noel Burke, Dr Philip Brady and Mrs Cherry Carter.
Rita O'Loughlin and Mary Hanley

Dr. Brady (to the right of the speaker above) spoke of how the book reflected the changes in Ireland over the last century and the changes he himself has witnessed since he came to Edenderry. He also spoke of some of the major events in Edenderry's history that are show in the book such as the visit of Cardinal Gilroy, Australia's first cardinal.

The book can be bought at the following shops in Edenderry, Mary & Maries, Brady's Spar SuperMarket, The Paper Shop. It can also be requested from the society's email edenderryhistory@gmail.com

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Sunshine charity and the St. Vincent de Paul society.

Cllr. Noel Burke, Cathaoirleach of Offaly Co. Co., Mrs Cherry Carter, Dr. Philip Brady, Mrs Mairead Evans, Ciaran Reilly, Stephanie Boner, Maeve Convery, Cllr. Finian O'Neill, Cathaoirleach of Edenderry Town Council.