Local launch for history works

Westmeath Historical and Archaeological Society will round off 2019 with a double book launch in the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar on Wednesday night of next week, December 11 (7.30pm).

Archaeologist Paul Gosling of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology will launch his book on the Táin trail in Meath and Westmeath, while Moyvore-based historian Dr Ciarán McCabe is to present his new book, ‘Begging, charity and religion in pre-Famine Ireland’.

The Táin route is signposted at many locations throughout the county, but now, for the first time, archaeologist Paul Gosling has produced a very useful and attractively presented guide to the route throughout the two counties.

The Táin Bó Cuailnge (the cattle raid of Cooley) is arguably Ireland’s finest piece of medieval literature. Set about the time of Christ, it pitches Queen Medb of Connacht against the youthful Cúchulainn of Ulster over the possession of a single bull. Epic in scale, it is a colourful tale of jealousy, power, betrayal and lust.

One of the distinctive aspects of the story is its setting in the north Irish midlands – Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath, Meath, Louth and Armagh. Westmeath has a particularly pivotal role in the story, the countryside between Mullingar and Athlone being the site of the last and greatest battle between the forces of Connacht and Ulster.

‘The Route of Táin Bó Cúailnge in counties Westmeath and Meath’ is a full-colour, six-page heritage guide newly published by Archaeology Ireland (Wordwell Books) in conjunction with Westmeath and Meath County Councils. It explores the many places in these counties where the contending forces camped, fought and regrouped.

Using place-names, folklore and topographic evidence, it includes new detail on the site of the mythic ‘Last Battle’ – near Ballymore – in which the Connacht forces under Queen Medb were engaged and defeated by the pursuing Ulster army led by King Conchobar.

Mr Gosling will speak for 20 minutes about the publication on Wednesday week, and the launch will be performed by Melanie McQuade, Westmeath heritage officer.

Meanwhile, Moyvore resident Dr Ciarán McCabe will give a brief presentation on his award-winning publication, which is based on his PhD research.

Beggars and begging were ubiquitous features of pre-Famine Irish society, yet have gone largely unexamined by historians. This book explores at length, for the first time, the complex cultures of mendicancy, as well as how wider societal perceptions of and responses to begging were framed by social class, gender and religion.

The book includes a discussion on the evolving role of parish vestries in the life of pre-Famine communities, facilitating an examination of corporate responses to beggary, while the mendicity society movement – which flourished throughout Ireland in the three decades following 1815 – highlights the significance of charitable societies and associational culture in responding to the perceived threat of mendicancy.

Drawing on a wide range of sources previously unused for the study of poverty and welfare, this book makes an important contribution to modern Irish social and ecclesiastical history.

Dr McCabe’s book will be available at a discounted rate on the night, and will be launched by Seamus O’Brien, secretary of Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society.