June Events: Landed Estates Conference and Paul Strzelecki Exhibition

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June has two very exciting events happening at the Irish Workhouse Centre. The first is our Annual Landed Estates Conference and the second is the opening of a permanent exhibition devoted to Paul Strzelecki (A Forgotten Polish Hero of the Great Irish Famine).

 Landed Estates Conference

 At the beginning of the 19th century there were over 4,000 ‘Big House Country Estates’ in Ireland. Today there are less than 100. These estates, and attached mansions, symbolized the economic strength and social standing of different landed families. However, estates were about far more than just the ‘Big House’, they were also an intrinsic part of tenant and labourer lives, and are a vital part of understanding Ireland's economic history. In essence, the story of the big house is the story of Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries. Our special guest speakers this year are Dr Karol Mullaney-Dignam and Dr Marion McGarry.
Itinerary:
10:00     John Joe Conwell / The development of the Big House and Estates
11:10     Dr Marion McGarry / Architecture and Interiors of the Big House
12:00     Margaret Hickey / The Food of the Big House
13:20     Dr Karol Mullaney-Dignam / Musical culture and Big House society
14:10     Kevin McGuire / From the Big House to the Glebe House
15:10     Dr Christy Cunniffe / Fluttering in the Dovecote:  Pigeon Houses of Co. Galway
 The sessions finishes off with a question and answer session on the University of Limerick / Irish Workhouse Centre Local History Certificate. 


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Paul Strzelecki Exhibition

Count Paul Strzelecki was a famous Polish adventurer and scientist but what many people don't know is he contribution to combating the Irish Famine. He was incredibly moved by Ireland's plight and even wrote to his colleagues:

You may now believe anything you hear and read, because what I actually see surpasses what I ever read of past and present calamities.

 His horror at what he saw in Ireland led him to develop a visionary mode of assistance: feeding starving children directly through schools. To celebrate and commemorate his generous outreach to Ireland, the Irish Workhouse Centre will house an exhibition devoted to telling the story of his remarkable life and achievements. Count Strzelecki deserves wide recognition for his heroism, unconditional commitment, deep empathy, and the impact he made during the catastrophic Famine period. This exhibition will showcase a totally different side to Irish Famine history and is free to visit.


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