PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release - 08 February 2016
The Way We Were –Go Back in Time at the Hawk’s Well
A special evening celebrating Sligo history and the men and women who came before us will take
place at the Hawk’s Well Theatre on Wednesday 20th of May. You will learn of the incredible
conditions and events that affected your ancestors' lives. In this time of centenary celebrations, let
expert speakers lead you on a journey into Sligo’s past. Chat to representatives from Hazelwood
Demesne, County Sligo Heritage & Genealogy Society and Letters of 1916 who will have a host of
interesting items on display in our foyer from 6.30pm.
A fascinating evening with insights about our shared Sligo past.
Tickets include complementary tea or coffee.
Exhibitions from 6:30pm
Talks from 7:30pm
Guest Speakers: John McTernan, Oliver Fallon, Susan Schreibman
John C. McTernan
Retired Sligo County librarian John McTernan has devoted much of his time over the past two
decades to researching and writing on various aspects of the history of County Sligo.In 2002 the
National University of Ireland conferred on him an honorary degree of M.A. in recognition of his
contribution to the building of a comprehensive local history collection in Sligo County library and to
honour the quantity and value of his many publications.
Oliver Fallon
In June 2002 the New Connaught Rangers Association was set up in King House in Boyle, Co
Roscommon by a number of individuals with a strong interest and family links to the old regiment. The
objectives of the Association were to gather material and information on the regiment and preserve it
for the generations to come. This material includes papers, diaries, publications, letters, photographs
and other memorabilia associated with Connaught Rangers. The associations’ archivist Mr Oliver
Fallon will give the talk on Sligo Men Of the Connaught Rangers in the Great War.
Susan Schreibman
Susan Schreibman is Professor of Digital Humanities and Director of An Foras Feasa, the Humanities
Research Centre, at the National University of Ireland Maynooth. She is the founding editor of Letters
of 1916, the first public humanities project in Ireland. The goal of the project is to create ‘a year in the
life’ of Ireland during this tumultuous time. It is doing this by collecting letters from both private and
public sources from November 1915-October 1916 and making them publicly available online. The
collection covers all aspects of life in Ireland, from the Easter Rising and the Great War, to letters
about love, family, faith, and business.
Members of the project team will be on hand to speak to you about the project, letters you might have
at home, and how to get involved. If you have letters written between Nov 1915 and Oct 1916, bring
them to the Hawk’s Well between 6.30-7.30pm, and we will photograph them and return a digital copy
of the image to you.
Adrian Regan
Adrian Regan is Manager of County Sligo Heritage & Genealogy Centre, which provides a
comprehensive genealogical service to people tracing their County Sligo roots from all over the world.
The Centre is part of a national network of genealogical centres in Ireland and is a member of the
Irish Family History Foundation. Adrian and his colleagues will be on hand to answer your questions
in the foyer from 6:30 - 7:30pm.
Tickets for The Way We Were on Wednesday 20th of May at 7.30pm are €10 and include
complimentary tea/coffee.
For further information contact Maeve McGowan, Marketing Manager, Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo,
maeve@hawkswell.com 071 916 1518