February Lecture 2017 - An Gorta Beag

Our Lecture series recommences this Thursday, 23rd of February at Tuam Library, High St at 8pm. The lecture is entitled “An Gorta Beag - how the 1880 Famine affected west of Ireland families and the parish of Williamstown”.

The lecture will deal with the less well-known famine of 1879-80, or An Gorta Beag, and its effects on the parish of Williamstown, and by extension the west of Ireland. Our guest speaker is Leo Finnegan, a retired primary teacher, who has been involved with a number of community organisations over the years, and is currently chair of the Williamstown Heritage Society. Recent projects of this very active Society include the purchase and full restoration of the disused Templetogher corn mill in the parish, and the publication in 2013 of a voluminous book, tracing in great detail family histories, and including maps and local features - a priceless source of information on family histories in Williamstown.