Pathways to the Past a survey of townlands of the Armagh/Tyrone border. Benburb Priory Library on Tuesday the 12th of November 2019 @ 8pm

The ONeill Country Historical Society’s next talk of the year is

Pathways to the Past a survey of townlands of the Armagh/Tyrone border

Do you ever wonder what your local area looked like in the past? Why does that road run there? How did we travel before we had the roads? Did we build our houses beside the roads or vice versa? These are questions that sometimes cross our minds. There are clues all around us to help us find answers. in this talk, Peter McNeill will present some of the findings in a study he undertook in the area of Kilmore (Armagh) and surrounding townlands. He will explain the abundance of avenues one can use to research an area and when combined the mystery often dissolves to reveal a vision of our ancestors, and how they lived. As well as the relatively recent introduction of online access to census records and old maps, one has many other sources such as old newspapers, photographs, postcards, museums, Griffith’s Valuations and Revision Books to mention a few. Peter will talk about the obvious indicators often ignored such as townland names and their meaning, which are rich in information, anecdotal evidence from locals and, perhaps most importantly, observation of the landscape.

Peter McNeill is a former teacher in St Catherine’s College, Armagh. He is a member of Ballyhegan and Kimore Community Heritage Association and is currently working with Townscape Heritage in Armagh City. 

Please come along to the Benburb Priory Library on Tuesday the 12^th of November @ 8pm to hear Peter deliver this fascinating talk