Clogher Historical Society

The Clogher Historical Society (Irish: Cumann Seanchais Chlochair), also known historically as the Clogher Diocesan Historical Society, is a voluntary, cross-border and cross-community organisation devoted to the study of local history in the diocese of Clogher and its surrounding areas. The diocese covers County Monaghan, most of County Fermanagh, parts of South and West Tyrone and South Donegal, together with small parts of counties Cavan and Louth — a region that straddles the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Society was founded in 1952 and is a registered charity whose work is largely carried out on a voluntary basis. The Society's stated aims are to promote the study of local history in the diocese of Clogher; to promote interest in and study of historical links between the diocese and other regions in Ireland, Europe and elsewhere; and to interact with other local historical groups and bodies with a view to promoting interest in local history. Its membership is drawn largely from individuals in Monaghan, Fermanagh and Tyrone, with members also in other Irish counties, Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia. University departments, heritage organisations, libraries and museums hold associate membership. As a publisher, the Society produces books and publications on the history of the region, including titles such as 'Aghabog Inheritance', 'History of the Diocese of Clogher', 'Tiarnach of Clones', 'Fearless but Few: Fermanagh and the Easter Rising', 'The Medieval Pilgrimage to St Patrick's Purgatory Lough Derg and the European Tradition' and 'A Cathedral Renewed: St Macartan's Monaghan'. It also publishes the 'Clogher Record', past issues of which are available in the online JSTOR catalogue. The Society maintains a bookshop and offers membership subscriptions through its website, www.clogherhistory.ie. The Society was initiated by the Catholic Bishop of Clogher, Most Rev. Dr Eugene O'Callaghan, and its inaugural meeting took place in St Macartan's College, Monaghan, on Sunday 28 December 1952. The founding officers included Frank Rodgers as President, Most Revd Dr Joseph Duffy as Chairman, Larry McDermott as Honorary Editor and Elizabeth Steenson as Honorary Treasurer. Today the Society continues to operate as a cross-border and cross-community organisation open to anyone who wishes to join.

The Clogher Historical Society was initiated by the Catholic Bishop of Clogher, Most Rev. Dr Eugene O'Callaghan, whose idea it was to establish a society devoted to the local history of the diocese. The inaugural meeting of Cumann Seanchais Chlochair, or the Clogher Diocesan Historical Society, took place in St Macartan's College, Monaghan, on Sunday 28 December 1952, with Bishop O'Callaghan presiding. The following officers and committee were elected: Frank Rodgers of Ballycastle, County Antrim, as President; Most Revd Dr Joseph Duffy of Derrynagrew, Monaghan, as Chairman; Larry McDermott of Dungue, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, as Honorary Editor; and Elizabeth Steenson of Derryarrilly, Ballybay, County Monaghan, as Honorary Treasurer. From its foundation the Society defined its geographical focus as the diocese of Clogher, which includes the county of Monaghan, most of Fermanagh, and parts of South and West Tyrone and South Donegal, together with small parts of counties Cavan and Louth. This area straddles the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the Society has consistently described itself as a cross-border and cross-community organisation open to anyone who wishes to join. Over the decades the Society has built a substantial publishing programme. Its journal, the Clogher Record, has been published in successive issues, and past issues are available in the online JSTOR catalogue. The Society has also produced numerous books and booklets on local and diocesan history, including 'Aghabog Inheritance' by Seosamh Ó Dufaigh, 'Davnet and Dympna: A Single Cult', 'Peter J. Drumm: First Professor of Biochemistry at University College Cork', 'Tiarnach of Clones: The fifteen centuries-old patron of Clones', 'Fearless but Few: Fermanagh and the Easter Rising', 'Polly of Bridgewater Farm: An Unknown Irish Story', 'Diocese of Clogher A.D. 2000, A celebration', 'Abstracts of Chancery Inquisitions of the Seventeenth Century for Counties Fermanagh and Monaghan', 'A Cathedral Renewed: St Macartan's Monaghan', 'The Medieval Pilgrimage to St Patrick's Purgatory Lough Derg and the European Tradition', 'An Capall Dubh agus scéalta eile', 'A short guide to Coolshannagh Municipal Burial Ground', 'A Time of Desolation: Clones Poor Law Union 1845-50', 'History of the Diocese of Clogher', 'Meánscoil Lughaidh Muineachán 1859-2013: A trip down memory lane', 'St Macartan's Cathedral Monaghan Diocese of Clogher', 'St Joseph's Church Machaire Rois 1866-2016: A Commemorative Booklet' and 'Townlands of Tydavnet Parish'. The Society is a registered charity and most of its work is done on a voluntary basis. Its membership is largely made up of individuals from Monaghan, Fermanagh and Tyrone, with members in other counties in Ireland, in Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia. Groups such as university departments, heritage organisations, libraries and museums hold associate membership. The Society maintains an office and a bookshop, and offers membership subscriptions through its website, www.clogherhistory.ie. In July 2020 the Society announced that its office would be closed until 4 August, asking enquirers to leave a message via the contact form. The Society's main aims, as stated on its website, are to promote the study of local history in the diocese of Clogher, in Monaghan, Fermanagh, Tyrone and other counties; to promote interest in and study of historical links between the diocese and other regions in Ireland, Europe and elsewhere; and to interact with other local historical groups and bodies with a view to promoting interest in local history.

• 2020

  Society announced its office would be closed until 4 August 2020, asking enquirers to use the contact form.

• 1952

  Inaugural meeting of Cumann Seanchais Chlochair (Clogher Diocesan Historical Society) held in St Macartan's College, Monaghan, on 28 December, presided over by Bishop Eugene O'Callaghan.

A voluntary, cross-border and cross-community historical society and registered charity dedicated to local history in the diocese of Clogher.

• Clogher Record

• Aghabog Inheritance

• Davnet and Dympna: A Single Cult

• Peter J. Drumm: First Professor of Biochemistry at University College Cork

• Tiarnach of Clones: The fifteen centuries-old patron of Clones

• Fearless but Few: Fermanagh and the Easter Rising

• Polly of Bridgewater Farm: An Unknown Irish Story

• Diocese of Clogher A.D. 2000, A celebration

• Abstracts of Chancery Inquisitions of the Seventeenth Century for Counties Fermanagh and Monaghan

• A Cathedral Renewed: St Macartan's Monaghan

• The Medieval Pilgrimage to St Patrick's Purgatory Lough Derg and the European Tradition

• An Capall Dubh agus scéalta eile

• A short guide to Coolshannagh Municipal Burial Ground

• A Time of Desolation: Clones Poor Law Union 1845-50

• History of the Diocese of Clogher

• Meánscoil Lughaidh Muineachán 1859-2013: A trip down memory lane

• St Macartan's Cathedral Monaghan Diocese of Clogher

• St Joseph's Church Machaire Rois 1866-2016: A Commemorative Booklet

• Townlands of Tydavnet Parish

1. 1Cumann Seanchais Chlochair | Clogher Historical Societyclogherhistory.ie
2. 2Cumann Seanchais Chlochair | Clogher Historical Society - About Usclogherhistory.ie
3. 3Cumann Seanchais Chlochair|Clogher Historical Society - Books Publishedclogherhistory.ie
4. 4Clogher Historical Society - Wikidatawikidata.org