News

Dr Darragh Curran will deliver our next talk on Wednesday 30th August 2023 @ 8pm at Benburb Priory

The O’Neill Country Historical Society’s next talk will be given by Dr Darragh Curran. Darragh will look at the political contests and sectarian clashes in this post-famine decade. This leads into the period 1860-1894 detailed in Michael Mc Loughlin’s book … Read More



The passing of our esteemed President, Professor John McGurk, 9th August 2023

It is with great regret and sadness we learn of the death of our esteemed President, Professor John McGurk. John passed away peacefully on Wednesday 9th August 2023 in Friars Lodge Nursing Home, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo. May his gentle soul … Read More



The Blackwater River – Talk on Wednesday 26th July 2023 at 8pm by James Kane

Our next talk of the year is, The Blackwater River, which flows through three counties, Co.Armagh, Co.Tyrone and Co.Monaghan, that has been used for thousands of years as the motorway of the day. Please join us at The Benburb Priory … Read More



THE ULSTER CANAL – An updated article on The Ulster Canal by James Kane, has been added to our History section



Invite to tour of Navan Centre & Fort, Armagh on Saturday 29th July 2023

Navan Centre and Fort is a place where myth and reality meet. It is one of Ireland’s most famous and important archaeological sites, the legendary Emain Macha. Legends say that Macha, the goddess of war and fertility, scored the earth … Read More

Navan Centre and Fort 81 Killylea Road Armagh BT60 4LD
29 Jul 2023, 1 pm - 4 pm


The importance of the Donnelly Sept within the O’Neill’s of Tyrone (Ó Néill Mór) and the extended family grouping termed the, Ceneal Eoghain (Cenéil nEógain)

Benburb Priory Library on Wednesday 28 June 2023 at 8.00 pm The O’Neill Country Historical Society’s next talk is on, The importance of the Donnelly Sept within the O’Neill’s of Tyrone (Ó Néill Mór) and the extended family grouping termed … Read More



Brendan McAnallen RIP

It is with great regret and sadness we learn of the passing of Brendan McAnallen, founding member and past Chairman of The O’Neill Country Historical society and historical journal DÚICHE NÉILL . Brendan was a frequent contributor to the journal … Read More



A Divided if not A Foolish People? by Michael McLoughlin

‘A Divided, if not A Foolish People’ by Michael McLoughlin ISBN 978-0-9554524-9-9 Hardback, 492pp, £25, December 2019. A REVIEW by Dr Darragh Curran In the years immediately following the Famine, there was little to mark the town of Dungannon apart from … Read More



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 … Read More



THE FORTS ON THE BLACKWATER RIVER “THE COCKPIT OF THE NORTH” Tuesday 8th May in O’Neills GFC Community Sports Complex An Port Mór/Blackwatertown at 8.00pm

THE FORTS ON THE BLACKWATER RIVER – “THE COCKPIT OF THE NORTH” The ONeill Country Historical Society commences its summer lecture series with a talk on ‘The Forts on the Blackwater River’ delivered by Dr James O’Neill. The Nine Years War … Read More