“The Changing Face of Ballina before and after the Civil War”: Seminar for Ballina Salmon Festival’s National Heritage Day – Wednesday, July 12
Ballina Arts Centre
Wednesday, July 12, 7.30pm
Cost: €10/ €5 concession
A unique public seminar as part of Ballina Salmon Festival‘s National Heritage Day featuring talks from celebrated local historians Dr. Liam Alex Heffron, David Hicks, Sinéad Brennan and Terry Reilly, followed by an open Q&A with the audience.
The Civil War marked a rubicon in the life of Ballina. With a focus on the town under both the British and Irish government rule, this special event will explore the changing face of the capital of North Mayo and its community, before and after 1923.
These four talks will discuss Ballina’s development since it’s civic foundation by Lord Tyrawley in 1723, the forgotten stories of local women and minority communities during the contentious Civil War era and how the modern town subsequently developed under Irish independence.
The event will be recorded live and later available on Ballina 2023 social media platforms.
Tickets are limited and booking is essential.
Guest Speakers
Dr Liam Alex Heffron
Historian and actor, Liam Alex Heffron provides content authenticity consultancy to community and educational groups, corporate projects and media productions. Founder of St Cormac’s Heritage charity, his research interests include the social causes of rebellion, folk memory and class-status constructs. He was awarded the 2019 Explore Innovation award and achieved his MA and PhD for his work on the local Irish Revolution, by the University of Galway. As a screen and stage actor he has also regularly appeared in the popular TV drama series Fair City and Ros na Rún. www.liamheffron.com
David Hicks
David has published two books on the architectural and social history of the Irish Country House. He has presented lectures on behalf of the Dublin and London chapters of the Irish Georgian Society plus several talks for the Office of Public Works in Farmleigh, Doneraile Court and Emo Court. This year he presented a paper at the Historic Houses International Conference in Maynooth University. He has featured on numerous media outlets speaking about the architectural history of Ireland and has had articles featured in The Sunday Times, The Irish Times and The Irish Arts Review. www.davidhicksbook.blogspot.com
Sinéad Mitchell-Brennan
Sinéad Mitchell-Brennan is an educator, researcher and writer from Ballina.
She is a graduate of Maynooth University and Trinity College Dublin. Her research focuses on the history and heritage of her hometown, in particular the experiences of ordinary people during key moments in Irish history. She is especially interested on how the Revolutionary period was experienced first-hand in Ballina.
Sinéad held the position of Educational Facilitator at the Jackie Clarke Collection from 2016 to 2022.
Terry Reilly
Ballina’s celebrated historian, Terry Reilly, has written extensively on his native town and its people, in addition to wider works that include Mayo’s Forgotten Famine Girls (featuring prominently in a Mayo Meitheal award success), On a Wing and a Prayer (the building of Knock Airport), and Amazing Mayo Stories. A former editor of the Western People and a founder-director of Mid-West Radio, he was the inaugural winner of the John Healy award for highlighting the neglect of the West, and also recognised as a ‘Champion of the West’ by the International Humbert Summer School.
Ballina Salmon Festival takes place from July 8 to 15 2023. To view a full programme of events visit www.ballinasalmonfestival.ie.