Past programmes

Sept. 2001 to May 2023

* PWM Lecture refers to the Philip Wilson Memorial lecture, the Society's annual public lecture held in September each year. It was named after the late Philip Wilson who had been curator of Craigavon Museum Services until his untimely death.

In 2014 our annual public lecture was renamed the Atkinson Lecture- the lecture is now part funded by a generous bequest to the society by a member of the Atkinson family.


Major T J Akinson

Major T.J. Atkinson,
9th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Killed in action near Hamel, France on 1st July 1916 while serving with the Ulster Division.



Date Lecturer Title
2023/24
Tuesday
10 Oct 2023
David A. Bell Clock and Watch Makers of the local area and Northern Ireland
Tuesday
14 Nov 2023
Paul May 1916 Rising and World War 1: Family Connections
Tuesday
12 Dec 2023
Matthew McMahon AGM followed by talk Armagh Observatory and the History of Observatories in Ireland
Tuesday
30 Jan 2024
Robin Masefield The world administered by Irishmen: the life and times of Sir Robert Hart and contemporary Irish in Asia
Tuesday
13 Feb 2024
Alister McReynolds The Gunfight at the OK Corrall – local connections
Saturday
02 Mar 2024
Margaret Ward Women’s Suffrage in Ireland
Wednesday
20 Mar 2024
Stuart Alexander and Katy McMonagle Report on archaeological dig at the early medieval site of Kilmochomóg, Lurgan in 2023
Tuesday
09 Apr 2024
Jennifer McClelland History and tour of Clare.
Wednesday
08 May 2024
Bronagh Murray ‘Archaic Stone Heads: enigmatic sculpture from Ireland
Saturday
18 May 2024
Michael Harnett Historic tour of gardens at Waringstown House
Tuesday
11 June 2024
Dr Jim O'Neill Pillboxes and shelters: the Bann Defence Line of World War II
2022/23
Tuesday
11 Oct 2022
Ryan Montgomery An Introduction to Zooarchaeology
Tuesday
08 Nov 2022
Michael McKernan ‘And the old enchantment lingers…’: Reflections on the great literary personalities of Craigavon.
Tuesday
13 Dec 2022
Jim Conway AGM followed by the Atkinson lecture: ‘The Clan McCann’ and launch of our Journal Review
Tuesday
10 Jan 2023
Alister McReynolds Captain Jack Crawford: the Poet Scout
Tuesday
14 Feb 2023
Cormac Bourke Early Christian Bells: making, using and keeping
Saturday
25 Mar 2023
David Dunlop ‘Reading Books with New Eyes’ – seeing Beyond Cover, Content, and Cost to Construction, Connections and Corresponding Value
Saturday
15 Apr 2023
Caroline Somerville Visit to Grange House and Retreat, Moyallon
Tuesday
09 May 2023
Dr Barry Sheppard ‘Depending on the generosity of the outside public to carry on the conflict?’ – The 1913 Lurgan Weavers and Winders Strike
2018/19
24 Sept 2019 AGM and Atkinson Lecture Ann Donnelly The Annual Atkinson Lecture. Archive footage from the Northern Ireland Screen: Digital Film Archive (digitalfilmarchive.net). This is a public lecture which is open to all
08 Oct 2019 Lecture Simon Wells The design of greenways in Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council – incorporating and preserving historic and natural assets.
12 Nov 2019 Lecture Charles Friel Irish Ambulance Trains in the Great War
10 Dec 19 Lecture Dr George Legg Geographies of Boredom & the New City of Craigavon
14 Jan 2019 Lecture Alan Freeburn Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum and the Oral History Project
11 Feb 2020 Lecture Mark Bailey Armagh Observatory: Societal Impacts and Long-term Climate Archive. Celebrating More than 225 Years of Scientific Research at Armagh
10 Mar 2020 Lecture Brett Hannam Talk and walking tour of Richhill. The speaker is author of 'Richhill: A Profile of an Ulster Village'. Meet in Friends Meeting House Hall in Irish Street.
07 Apr 2020 Lecture Clare Presbyterian Church. Talk and walking tourMay 200cancelled due to coronavirus.
May 2020 Saturday outingMay 200cancelled due to coronavirus
2018/19
25 Sept 18 AGM and Atkinson Lecture Cormac McSparran The Great Fort of Aghagallon, its location and extent. How old is it and how diverse is its history?
09 Oct 2018 Lecture Greer Ramsey Archaeological treasures from County Armagh
13 Nov 2018 Lecture Jim Conway The McAlinden brothers WW1: four went one returned
11 Dec 18 Lecture Armagh Rhymers Mummers, Rhymers, Strawmen, Guisers, Galoshians, Wrenboys or fools. The house visiting tradition of Armagh
08 Jan 2019 Lecture Dr FX McCorry 'The Book of Armagh' and 'Egyptian Hieroglyphics near Crumlin, Co. Antrim'
05 Feb 2019 Annual Dinnerin Brownlow House with musical entertainment by pupils from Lismore Comprehensive School
12 Feb 2019 Lecture Dr. Liam Campbell Turf cutting
12 Mar 2019 Lecture Sebastian Graham Mills in the Craigavon area
09 Apr 2019 Members' Night David Weir film onMay 200Sir Robert Hart and distribution of Review Vol. 11 No. 1
07 May 2019 Evening Outing Lissan House, Cookstown - seat of the Staples Baronets of Lissan and Faughanvale from 1628
18 May 2019 Saturday Outing Cavan County Museum exhibition: ‘Road to War; Path to Reflection’, Cloughoughter Castle and Saint Fethlimidh's Cathedral, Kilmore and its 12th century Romanesque doorway.
2017/18
26 Sept 17 AGM & Atkinson Lecture The Rt Hon Lord Justice Deeny That Myriad Minded Man; George 'AE' Russell, the Polymath from Lurgan.
10 Oct 2017 Lecture Bracken Anderson History of the North Irish Horse
14 Nov 2017 Lecture Jim Conway The Characters and History of Shankill Graveyard
12 Dec 17 Lecture Alistair McCann 'Target Armagh': Northern Ireland's Cold War Legacy
10 Jan 2018 Lecture Plunkett Campbell The Life and Times of Rev. W B Yeats, Tullylish
06 Feb 2018 Dinner Annual Dinner
13 Feb 2018 Lecture Dr Emma Reisz (QUB) Sir Robert Hart, the small significant Irishman
13 Mar 2018 Lecture Dr Naomi McAreavey Portadown and the 1641 Rebellion.
10 Apr 2018 Members' Night Sean Barden The resources of Armagh County Museum
08 May 2018 Evening Outing Monie Hill Burial Ground and Friends Meeting House, Richhill
20 May 2018 Saturday Outing North Antrim Coast historic sites including Ben Varden, Bonamargy Friary and the "lost town" of Dunluce
2016/17
27 Sept 16 AGM & Atkinson Lecture Alister McReynolds My 18th Century Irish genealogy in prose and poetry
11 Oct 2016 Lecture Dr. Brian Turner Ulster surnames (note: this is a change from the original planned lecture)
08 Nov 2016 Lecture Richard Warner The Scarva Danes Cast, the Black Pigs Dyke and the boundaries of ancient Ulster
13 Dec 16 Lecture David Weir Craigavon: A history in 30 objects
10 Jan 2017 Lecture William Beattie Caledon
07 Feb 2017 Dinner Annual Dinnerand entertainment
14 Feb 2017 Lecture Primrose Wilson The Follies Trust
14 Mar 2017 Lecture Roger Dixon Portadown and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
04 Apr 2017 Members' Night Various members Early recollections of Craigavon Historical Society
09 May 2017 Outing Evening outing - 50th Anniversary Event at Brownlow House
20 May 2017 Outing Saturday outing to Tullynally Castle, Pakenhamhall, Castlepollard
2015/16
29 Sept 15 AGM & Atkinson Lecture Dr Olwen Purdue (QUB) Medicine in the Ulster workhouse
13 Oct 2015 Lecture Fred Cooper (& Charles Friel) "The Derry Road"
10 Nov 2015 Lecture Richard Parkinson Memories of World War II
08 Dec 15 Lecture Dr William Roulston (Ulster Historical Foundation) The Hamiltons of Baron's Court
12 Jan 2016 Lecture Richard Edgar Not forgotten: Lurgan and the Great War
02 Feb 2016 Dinner Annual Dinnerand entertainment
09 Feb 2016 Lecture Des Quail Aspects of the history of Banbridge and District - seen through the medium of postcards.
08 Mar 2016 Lecture Dr FX McCorry Understanding marriage rites and patterns: 1650 - 1830
12 Apr 2016 Members' Night Dr Ian Hunter American family connections
10 May 2016 Outing Evening outing to Ulster Aviation Collection
21 May 2016 Outing Saturday outing to Crom Castle, tour of Enniskillen and Devenish Island Monastic Site on MV Kestrel and visit to Headhunters Railway Museum in Enniskillen
2014/15
16 Sept 14 AGM & Atkinson Lecture Dr Greer Ramsey Bronze age gold jewellery: the tale of a twisted torc
14 Oct 2014 Lecture Pat Close Eels on Lough Neagh
11 Nov 2014 Lecture Robert Wallace The 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers (in association with Craigavon Museum Services)
09 Dec 14 Lecture Roger Dixon MBE The Donegall family and other great landowners of Lough Neagh
13 Jan 2015 Lecture Damian Woods The Armagh Railway Disaster
03 Feb 2015 Dinner Annual Dinner
10 Feb 2015 Lecture Linda Fullerton The Lurgan Jewish Community 1890-1955
10 Mar 2015 Lecture Roddy Hegarty St. Patrick and the early church in Armagh
14 Apr 2015 Members' Night Lecture Mervyn Gilmour Growing up in the Birches 75 years ago
05 May 2015 Outing Evening outing to the Ballance House, Glenavy, restored birthplace of John Ballance Prime Minister of New Zealand 1891-1893
16 May 2015 Outing Saturday outing to Newry and Mourne Museum at Bagenal's Castle followed by Greenore and Carlingford
2013/14
17 Sept 13 AGM & PWM Lecture Éamon Phoenix A decade of Centenaries
08 Oct 2013 Lecture Michael McKeown A History of Newry
12 Nov 2013 Lecture Ernest McCall Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary
10 Dec 13 Lecture Mrs Brenda Collins The Rawdon and Conway families
14 Jan 2014 Lecture Plunkett Campbell Gilford Mill
04 Feb 2014 Dinner Annual Dinner
11 Feb 2014 Lecture Douglas Mowbray McCaw Allan
11 Mar 2014 Lecture Dr Mary Goss Dr James Deeny (1906-1994): his distinguished medical career and the particular significance of the Lurgan years
08 Apr 2014 Members' Night Lecture
06 May 2014 Outing Evening outing to Armagh Public Library and Registry
17 May 2014 Outing - Saturday outing: Lagan Shipbuilding Heritage
2012/13
18 Sept 12 AGM & PWM Lecture Mr Ken Neill Archaeology of Co. Armagh
09 Oct 2012 Lecture Dr Olwen Purdue Local Workhouses
13 Nov 2012 Lecture Mr Brian Cassells The History of Bellville Church at Bellville Church, Derrytrasna.
11 Dec 12 Lecture Mr Brett Hannam The de Salises; Absentee Landlords of an Armagh Parish
08 Jan 2013 Lecture Mr Roddy Hegarty The roads of County Armagh
05 Feb 2013 Dinner Annual Dinner
12 Feb 2013 Lecture Dr Ian Malcolm Towards Inclusion; Protestants and the Irish Language
12 Mar 2013 Lecture Mr George Busby My Experience of Family History Research
09 Apr 2013 Members' Night Lecture Mr Arthur Chapman Emigration of Lurgan Quaker Families to North America
07 May 2013 Outing Saturday outing to Castlecaulfield and Donaghmore
25 May 2013 Outing Saturday outing to Bective Abbey, St Mary's Abbey and the 12th century Anglo-Norman Castle at Trim. The round tower, high crosses and Columba's House at Kells
2011/12
20 Sept 11 AGM & PWM Lecture Dr. Brian Turner Townlands
11 Oct 2011 Lecture Brendan McAnallen The Blackwater Valley
08 Nov 2011 Lecture Richard Edgar World War I (title to be confirmed)
13 Dec 11 Lecture Roddy Hegarty Christmas Goose
10 Jan 2012 Lecture Cardwell McClure Portadown Foundry
07 Feb 2012 Dinner Annual Dinner
14 Feb 2012 Lecture Ken McElroy The little blue flower (flax and linen)
13 Mar 2012 Lecture George Busby The Secret Listeners of Gilnahirk
17 Apr 2012 Members' Night table Quiz
03 May 2012 Evening Outing Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Library & Archive, Armagh
21 May 2012 Saturday Outing By coach and boat to Ballyronan, Portglenone, Cranfield old church and Dr Alexander Irvine's cottage in Pogue's Entry in Antrim
2010/11
21 Sep 10 AGM & PWM Lecture Michael Costello The Gordons of Stoneyford, Co. Antrim - Violin Makers
05 Oct 2010 Lecture Anthea McWilliams Sir Richard Wallace and Lisburn
09 Nov 2010 Lecture John McKeown Restoring the Royal Canal
07Dec 10 Lecture Ken McElroy The little blue flower (flax and linen): lecture cancelled due to snow
11 Jan 2011 Lecture Charles Friel Rails around Craigavon
01 Feb 2011 Dinner Annual Dinner
08 Feb 2011 Lecture Rev Alex Cheevers The Ulster Divisions in WW1 and Remembrance
08 Mar 2011 Lecture Rev Shaun Cleland Land of Saints and Scholars
12 Apr 2011 Lecture Margaret Livingston The Brontes
03 May 2011 Outing Evening outing to the Bann Valley Heritage Centre
21 May 2011 Outing Saturday outing to Dundalk Museum, Monasterboice, Mellifont and the Boyne Valley
2009/10
22 Sept 09 AGM & PWM Lecture Prof. Raymond Gillespie The Plantation of Ulster
13 Oct 2009 Lecture Andrew McClelland Historic buildings in the Craigavon area
10 Nov 2009 Lecture Dr Cormac Bourke The Blackwater Finds
08 Dec 09 Lecture Rosemary Mulholland Bessbrook - a Social Experiment
12 Jan 2010 Lecture Edward and Primrose Wilson Napoleonic War Veterans in Ireland
02 Feb 2010 Dinner Annual Dinnerand entertainment
09 Feb 2010 Lecture Dr Neil McGleenon Building of Gosford Castle
09 Mar 2010 Lecture Olwen Purdue Landlords and Tenants in Ulster
13 Apr 2010 Lecture Dr FX McCorry The Growth of Economic and Social Complexities in Lurgan, 1750-1850
04 May 2010 Outing Evening oouting to Gosford Castle, Mullabrack Church and Kilcluney 'Abbey'
22 May 2010 Outing Saturday outing to Gracehill and the North Antrim Coast
2008/09
23 Sept 08 AGM & PWM Lecture Richard Doherty Field Marshall Sir John Dill
14 Oct 2008 Lecture May Blair Hiring fairs and Market Places
11 Nov 2008 Lecture Charles Gardiner Lurgan Clockmakers
09 Dec 08 Lecture David Armstrong Old Times in Portadown
13 Jan 2009 Lecture Dr Robert Logan The history of Gilford
03 Feb 2009 Dinner Annual Dinnerand entertainment
10 Feb 2009 Lecture Pat Reilly Kilmore
10 Mar 2009 Lecture Sean Madden Conservation of Books and Paintings
21 Apr 2009 Lecture Members' Night Launch of Review 2009
05 May 2009 Evening Outing Dungannon
30 May 2009 Outing Saturday outing to Downpatrick
2007/08
18 Sept 07 AGM & PWM Lecture Derek Bingham CS Lewis
09 Oct 2007 Lecture Sean Patterson From the Basin to the Bar
13 Nov 2007 Lecture Dr John Wright and Harry Eakin Irish Wade
11 Dec 07 Lecture Pat John Rafferty The Flight of the Earls
08 Jan 2008 Lecture Danny Donnelly Water Mills of the Sperrins
05 Feb 2008 Dinner Annual Dinnerand entertainment
12 Feb 2008 Lecture Gerry Oates Townland names
11 Mar 2008 Lecture Clive Scouler Lady Gregory
08 Apr 2008 Lecture Brian Cassells Wandering Irish Waterways
06 May 2008 Outing Evening Outing - ???
07 Jun 08 Outing Saturday Outing - ???
2006/07
19 Sept 06 AGM & PWM Lecture Canon Fleming Tartaraghan Precinct
10 Oct 2006 Lecture Anthony Russell John Mitchell, his wife Jenny and his association with the Verners.
14 Nov 2006 Lecture Griffith Wylie The Moody Family of Poyntzpass - A Service History
12 Dec 06 Lecture Mike Baillie Tree-Rings and Plagues: what is the connection?
9 Jan 2007 Lecture Richard Warner Ancient Irish Silver and Modern Technology
06 Feb 2007 Dinner Annual Dinnerand entertainment
13 Feb 2007 Lecture Andrew Kelly & Peter McNeill Kilmore
13 Mar 2007 Lecture Elaine Hill Mapping our Locality
03 Apr 2007 Members' Night Lecture by Society Members
01 May 2007 Evening Outing Poyntzpass and the Newry Canal
02 Jun07 Outing Saturday outing to Carrickfergus Castle, Museum and Gas Works Museum
2005/06
12 Sept 05 AGM & PWM Lecture Mr Anthony Shillington The Shillingtons of Portadown
10 Oct 2005 Lecture Dr Eoin Magennis The Rise and Fall of the Magennis Lordship
31 Oct 2005 Lecture Miss Mary McVeigh Lurgan and Portadown - 100 years ago
28 Nov 2005 Lecture Clive Scoular The Life and Times of Paul, Cardinal Cullen (1803-1878)
9 Jan 2006 Lecture Ross Chapman In Stable. Byre and Sty
07 Feb 2006 Dinner Annual Dinnerand entertainment
13 Feb 2006 Lecture Gabriel Mallon Stories from Armagh Gaol.
13 Mar 2006 Lecture Sean Bardon Tullyelmer: a townland through time.
10 Apr 2006 Lecture Members' Night lecture by Society Members
02 May 2006 Outing Evening outing to Loughgall
03 Jun 06 Outing Saturday outing to Drumantine, Drumbanagher, Newry and Mourne Park
2004/05
28 Sept 04 AGM & PWM Lecture Mr Trevor Parkhill Conflict
12 Oct 2004 Lecture Clive Scoular Women in Irish History
09 Nov 2004 Lecture Ellis Foy Peaceful Wartime - the Women's Land Army
11 Dec 04 Lecture Arthur Daly Battle of Benburb
11 Jan 2005 Lecture Miss Mary McVeigh Lurgan and Portadown - 100 years ago
01 Feb 2005 Dinner Annual Dinnerand entertainment
08 Feb 2005 Lecture Dr Eoin McGuinness The Rise and Fall of the Magennis Lordship
08 Mar 2005 Lecture Jason Diamond Linen Families of the Bann Valley
20 Apr 2005 Members' Night Lecture by Society Members
10 May 2005 Outing Evening outing to Richhill castle and churches
28 May 2005 Outing Saturday outing to the Bishop's Palace, Downhill and Martello Tower at Magilligan
2003/04
30 Sept 03 AGM & PWM Lecture Mr David Riley The Foundation and Development of Craigavon
14 Oct 2003 Lecture Dr Audrey McKeown History of Portadown Technical College
11 Nov 2003 Lecture F X McCorry Parish Registers, Hidden Treasures
02 Dec 03 Lecture Aideen D'Arcy Books and Libraries in Ireland from early times
13 Jan 2004 Lecture Crónán Ó Doibhlin The Gaelic Scribe - Pádraig Ó Pronntaigh - a Bronte connection?
03 Feb 2004 Dinner Annual Dinnerwith entertainment featuring Maurice Leydon
10 Feb 2004 Lecture Mrs Amanda Moreno Royal Irish Fusiliers
09 Mar 2004 Lecture Ian Wilson E.V.Boulger, first headmaster of Lurgan College
20 Apr 2004 Lecture Members' night lecture by Society Members - A Miscellany of Memories
2002/03
24 Sept 02 AGM & PWM Lecture Dr Patrick Fitzgerald Migration Studies and the Craigavon Area
8 Oct 2002 Lecture Kieran Clendinning The Brownlow Family of Lurgan
12 Nov 2002 Lecture Roger Weatherup OBE The Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh
10 Dec 02 Lecture Dr Robbie Meredith The Linenhall Library
14 Jan 2003 Lecture Stephen Cameron The Princess Victoria
04 Feb 2003 Dinner Annual Dinnerand entertainment
11 Feb 2003 Lecture Dr Greer Ramsey High Crosses and Mediterranean Musicians
11 Mar 2003 Lecture Mrs Muriel Sherlock Diaries of William Lofty, Land Agent of the Duke of Manchester
08 Apr 2003 Members' Night Brian Cassells The Ulster Canal
2001/02
25 Sept 2001 AGM & PWM* Lecture Ruth Delany Ireland's Inland Waterways.
09 Oct 2001 Lecture F X McCorry Ecclesiatical chuch sites including Seagoe, Shankill and old Camlin
13 Nov 2001 Lecture Bill Kennedy 18th Century Ulster-Scots Emigration to the United States
11 Dec 01 Lecture Elgin Cameron Conservation of books and works of art
08 Jan 2002 Lecture Marcus Patton Ulster Vernacular Architecture
12 Feb 2002 Lecture Brian Courtney (Portadown Times) The Boer War - a family history
12 Mar 2002 Lecture Stephen Cameron Titanic and the Ulster Connection
09 Apr 2002 Members' Night Primrose Wilson Historic Buildings - Antiques to be treasured or millstones?

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