Midlands Today With Will Faulkner - Friday, 4th March

Lunchtime Lecture by Dr Jacinta Prunty. 
Lunchtime Lecture series organised by the Royal Irish Academy Library and the Irish Historic Towns Atlas 'Mapping city, town and country since 1824: the Ordnance Survey in Ireland.'
This was the Academy's Heritage Week lecture 2014, introduced by Prof. Mary E. Daly, Academy President.

The speaker contextualises the surveying of Ireland on the 6" scale: the survey was attempting to define boundaries for taxation purposes and to portray the country on an unprecedented scale, using scientific methods, rigorous standards and a highly systematised approach.  The maps were to provide a full record of the living landscape. The maps would be authoritative and have legal standing. Colby drew up a Code of Instructions for the military and civilian surveyors; these were amended over time to cater for unforeseen issues.  Larcom was responsible for the recruitment of linguists and antiquarian scholars for the Memoir and Placenames work. There was a clear chain of command and strong discipline.  Training was to a high standard. The latest instruments were purchased and problems with triangulation, particularly of the Great Central Plain, were resolved.  New instruments were developed. Contour lines were used. Placenames were recorded even if they were not to be used.  Every piece of information was allocated a source.  Issues arose of what should be included or omitted on the map, e.g. gravestones (omitted). How would the railways be superimposed on the maps? How should water-land boundaries be shown? (the Crown had foreshore rights, thus this was a key decision). How do you define a footpath? Revisions proved difficult, budgeting was very tight, there was pressure from various groups, e.g. industrialists, the railways, the Memoir group.  Printing brought its own set of problems, and sales were necessary to enable the project to continue.  These and many other issues facing the Survey are discussed in the course of this lecture.

Location: Academy House
Date: Wednesday 27 August, 2014

Disclaimer:
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The map-making of the Ordnance Survey: challenges on every front

'Tudor policy in the midlands territories of Laois and Offaly c.1530-1603' by Diarmuid Wheeler (NUIG).

Presentation recorded at the 2015 Tudor and Stuart Ireland Interdisciplinary Conference which took place from August 28-29 2015 in Maynooth University. Podcasting by Real Smart Media.

With the collapse of the rebellion of Silken Thomas FitzGerald, the territories of Laois and Offaly were exposed to the interventions of strictly English born governors who would henceforth conduct the administration of the crown government in Ireland. The first policy pursued by the new administration sought to absorb and create a smooth transition from Gaelic lordships, such as the O’More and O’Connor clans into the folds of English civility, the strategy known as ‘Surrender and regrant’ Although relatively successful at first, it moved at a sluggish pace and by late 1543 the policy was suspended but never wholly abandoned In the following years, the government altered its approach and instead pursued a policy of plantation in order to reduce and hopefully abolish entirely, the recurring raids upon the Pale by the Gaelic clans of the region. Little major change occurred under Elizabeth with regards to policy in the midlands with various deputies being appointed to pacify the region via upgrading the forts already established into market towns and establishing English settlers on a long-term basis with the creation of shire ground and the exclusion of any unruly, defiant Gaelic clans from owning land which in turn ensured that instability made this task extremely difficult as the costly garrisons were constantly on full alert and the settlers found it increasingly difficult to survive against stiff Gaelic resistance. This resistance, which often resulted in open warfare in the region, would transform its landscape politically, geographically, and historically and ensured that violence would endure for the great majority of the second half of the sixteenth century ultimately making the policy in its most basic form impossible to enforce.

The Tudor and Stuart Ireland conference was generously supported by UCD School of History, UCD Research, Marsh's Library, Graduate Studies Office at Maynooth University, the Department of History at Maynooth University and the Irish Research Council (New Foundations Award).


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Diarmuid Wheeler. Tudor policy in the midlands territories of Laois and Offaly c.1530-1603

“When the blast of war blows in our ears”: Military men in Leix and Offaly, c.1547-1580 by Diarmuid Wheeler (NUIG).

Following mixed success with the policy of surrender and regrant throughout Ireland c.1536-1548, Sir Anthony St. Leger’s successor, Lord Deputy Sir James Croft, was instructed in May 1551 to ‘possess, survey, and let Leix and Offaley’ and transform both regions into one or two shires. Following incessant delays, both territories were eventually shired in the year 1556. The new counties were renamed King’s County and Queen’s County, in honour of the two monarchs, and a military administration was installed in both areas. This new administration was overseen by the Lord Deputy, essentially the royal commander in the field and the man entrusted with the enforcement of military discipline amongst his troops. Entrusted to carry out his instructions on the ground at a local level were essentially four groups of officers, according to rank: Justices of the Peace, constables, seneschals and sheriffs. It has been argued by various historians that the men who undertook these roles were largely ‘focused on acquiring extensive personal holdings in the areas under their authority’ and ‘resorted at will to extravagant and unwarranted violence’ putting ‘entire villages to the sword’.

This paper examines the military men who primarily settled in either area and exercised these local governmental roles in the period of c.1547-1580. It also explores the question of whether or not the men who undertook these positions were simply violent and corrupt individuals, exercising martial law without restraint and primarily motivated by their own financial gain, or if they were in fact dutiful, loyal and hardworking crown officials.

The 6th Annual Tudor & Stuart Ireland Interdisciplinary Conference took place at NUI Galway in August, 2016. The conference was generously supported by: an NUI Galway President's Award for Research Excellence (awarded to Prof. Steven Ellis); the Moore Institute, NUI Galway; the Discipline of History, NUI Galway and the Society for Renaissance Studies. 

As in previous years the majority of papers were recorded for podcasting by https://soundcloud.com/real-smart-media in association with www.historyhub.ie. There are now more than 140 podcasts from previous Tudor and Stuart Ireland conferences freely available. To access this archive go to www.historyhub.ie/podcasts or visit tudorstuartireland.com 

Diarmuid Wheeler. Military men in Leix and Offaly, c.1547-1580

'Thresholds' (2017) is a work for soundtrack and saxophonist, a commission from Laois County Council in conjunction with Creative Ireland to create a sound work examining the condition of pollinating insects in Ireland and what can be done to arrest their decline.

I interviewed many people whose lives and/or work in some way interact with pollinators as well as broader ecological themes, and fragments of those interviews, as well as field recordings I made, constitute the soundtrack element. I then wrote a saxophone score to accompany the soundtrack (not the other way around!), performed here by my longtime collaborator Cathal Roche. This score reflects - musically and emotionally - on various aspects of the soundtrack and on occasion imitates directly some of the speech patterns heard there.
My thanks to Laois Heritage Officer Catherine Casey and all those who generously gave their time to talk to me.

Thresholds (soundtrack & saxophonist)

Newly elected Offaly Councillor Ken Smollen joined Liam for a chat and talked about his election to the Council. His comments getting a number of strong reactions.
Renua Leader and Offaly Councillor John Leahy reacts angrilly to Cllr Ken Smollen...
Are Sinn Féin falling apart under leader Mary Lou MacDonald?
One of the party's surviving councillors  joined Liam to discuss the future.

Saturday View 8th June

“Species Counterpoint” (2019) is a 25’ work for two baritone saxophones (one notated, one improvising)and soundtrack and it takes its inspiration from, and is an exploration of, animal and plant species under threat of extinction in County Sligo because of the effects of climate change. In order to inform myself of the facts on the ground I undertook interviews with local people who have knowledge of the causes of species threat/extinction (climatologists, ecologists) and people who are working to mitigate them (biologists) in order to build up a clear picture of cause and effect as well as obtain ideas about what can be done to mitigate the threat to species.

The principle idea I came away with after conducting my series of interviews is that biodiversity is under great threat both here and elsewhere; protecting and encouraging biodiversity must be high on the list of solutions to the problems caused by climate change. This idea is reflected strongly in the music.
I am always interested in creating new collaborations between Irish and international musicians so have brought together two of the most innovative saxophonists in this part of Europe – Dutch saxophonist Ties Mellema and Sligo-based saxophonist/wind player/improviser Cathal Roche. Both are long-time collaborators of mine and have premiered many specially-written works by me. This was the first time they worked together.

“Species Counterpoint” was funded through the Arts Council’s Arts Grant scheme and was presented in collaboration with Sligo Heritage Office and The Model.

Species Counterpoint (for two baritone saxophones & soundtrack)

A new guide on biodiversity is being launched in the midlands.

"Gardening for Biodiversity" offers simple tips and illustrations on how to promote wildlife in your own garden.

The booklet has been commissioned by Laois County Council but is available - for free - from all three local authorities in the midlands.

Ireland became the second country in the world to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency in May 2019.

Laois Heritage Officer Catherine Casey has more...

New guide on biodiversity launched in the midlands

Series of radio ads created to raise awareness of Ireland's pollinators and how we can all do our bit to help them.

Created by the Heritage Officers of Laois, Offaly and Westmeath County Councils. Scientific co-ordinator Juanita Browne. Funded by the Department of Culture, Heriatge and the Gaeltacht. Recorded and first broadcast by Midlands 103 local radio.

Pollinators in Autumn

Chatters and Matters - Episode 17 Sunday 21st February

Sharing the built, natural and cultural heritage of of Laois, Ireland. More at www.laois.ie/heritage

Pollinators in Autumn

Laois Heritage

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