14/01/2015 - Launch of County Donegal in 1916 Education Pack

As part of the launch of the 1916-2016 centenary programme of events for County Donegal, Donegal County Council will be launching the ‘County Donegal in 1916: From the Edge’ History & Heritage Education Pack in County House, Lifford at 12 noon on Monday, January 18.  The education pack was produced by the Donegal County Archives, Donegal County Museum, County Donegal Heritage Office and the Donegal County Library Service and is aimed at upper primary/secondary school students, teachers and a general audience.  The education pack is funded by Donegal County Council and The Heritage Council as part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan. 

“As we commemorate the centenary of 1916, we wanted to give people a flavour of what life and society in County Donegal was like in 1916,” said Niamh Brennan, County Archivist.  “The education pack consists of an illustrated 64-page booklet and 19 facsimiles in a designed folder.  The aims of the education pack are to raise awareness of society and culture in County Donegal in 1916; set national events (such as the Easter Rising) and international events (such as the First World War, the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Jutland) in the context of their effects on society in County Donegal; recognise the role that key individuals from County Donegal played in national/international events in 1916 and communicate the material culture of County Donegal in 1916 through key documents and artefacts.  As well as drawing upon archival material and historical items in local, national and international repositories, we have sought to highlight the material culture of County Donegal in 1916 through documents, historical objects, photographs and the cultural landscape.  We would like to thank all the people from County Donegal who contributed material to the education pack.”

The 1916-2016 centenary programme of events for County Donegal will also be launched at the event.  Speakers will include Joe McHugh T.D. (Minister of State, Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht), Cllr. Ciarán Brogan (Cathaoirleach, Donegal County Council), Seamus Neely (Chief Executive, Donegal County Council) and Michael Starrett (Chief Executive, The Heritage Council) as well as representatives from the national and local committees of the 1916-2016 centenary commemoration.  Everyone is welcome to attend and light refreshments will be served.  RSVP to County Secretariat, Donegal County Council on (074) 917 2456 or by e-mail to [email protected]  Copies of the ‘County Donegal in 1916: From the Edge’ History & Heritage Education Pack will be available free-of-charge at the launch and from the Donegal County Archives on (074) 917 2490 or by e-mail at [email protected]