Brian Kennedy, Ben Oakley, Irene Morrow, 11 Dec. 2006
The topic was the building of three churches in Birr, all constructed in the early 19th century in a neo-gothic style. Brian led off with a fascinating account of St Brendan's RC Church which opened in 1824 replacing an adjacent thatched chapel. The site was on a new road and near a bridge recently built. Thomas Lalor Cooke, 19th century historian of Birr - temporarily in sympathy with the Crotty Schism which arose from a dispute over the building funds - was irate at the orientation not being due E/W. The church has excellent acoustics, lovely stained glass windows including one associated with AW Pugin and was sympathetically adapted to the new liturgical requirements after Vatican II.
Ben recounted the move in 1816 from the medieval St Brendan's Church now in ruins to the beautiful new St Brendan's C. of I. which closes the vista in Oxmantown Mall. Edward Synge Jun. was rector at the time - he succeeded his father Edward Synge Sen. and between them, they held the rectorship of Birr from 1760 to 1818. Another rector was antiquarian Samuel Hemphill. An angry dispute arose over the design for the reredos when the lovely chancel was added in 1876. The vestry minutes, together with the mural tablets constitute an extensive archive. The building has good acoustics and is very attractive with vaulted ceiling, galleries on three sides, lovely stained glass and many other interesting features.
Irene began by referring to the simple decor of the Methodist Church in comparison with the other churches and remarked that even Thomas Lalor Cooke alluded to this fact in his Picture of Parsonstown (1826): 'The interior is exceedingly simple, being without architraves, cornices or mouldings ... on the floor are several rows of forms making so many segments of concentric circles of which the preaching desk seems to be the centre.' John Wesley preached in Birr nineteen times between 1748 & 1789. The first Methodist Preaching House which opened in 1768 was a primitive structure in an alley off Church Lane. The present church in Emmet St was built in 1820.

Denis Bergin, 20 November 2006
Denis presented a slide show of the life, work and achievements of James Hoban (1758-1831), best known as the architect of the White House in Washington, DC. James was born on the estate of the Earl of Desart at Cuffesgrange, near Callan in Co Kilkenny. He studied drawing in Dublin, encouraged by the Earl and had some input into important Dublin buildings including the Royal Exchange and the Custom House. He emigrated to the US and worked in Charleston, S.C. Denis has lived there and greatly admired Hoban's work on the Courthouse and Theatre. 
Hoban came to the attention of George Washington who employed the efficient Irishman to work on the White House and on other prestigious buildings in the then new US capital. The audience were delighted with splendid slides of the White House which is said to be partly based on Leinster House, Dublin. 
Denis is involved in commemorations both in Ireland and in the US to mark the 175th anniversary of Hoban's death in 2006 and the 250th anniversary of his birth in 2008.

Presentation of Facsimile, 23 Oct.2006
The facsimile of the Macregol Gospels was introduced officially to a meeting of Birr Historical Society when those who contributed were invited to celebrate the occasion. Margaret Hogan contributed a variation on her PowerPoint presentation for the Macregol Conference in September and those present were invited to examine the facsimile - with white gloves, of course.

Macregol Conference, 1-3 Sept.2006
Members of Birr Historical Society were very pleased with the attendance at the Macregol Conference in September. About 200 people in all turned up at the lectures - or at least at some of them. Several academics were heard to say it was the most enjoyable conference they ever attended.

Adrian Hewson, 15 May 2006
Adrian spoke about early Irish monastic manuscripts, especially the Book of Dimma associated with Roscrea. Why were they produced? Adrian suggested motives might include the glory of God through worship, even commemoration of some person or occasion, prestige of the monastery or as a contribution to it as a centre of learning. 
Having listed the principal manuscripts and some of the adventures they experienced down through the ages, together with the many theories associated with the Book of Kells, he focused on the Book of Dimma now in Trinity College Library. Probably roughly contemporary with the Macregol Gospels, it is by contrast a small pocket gospel book of 148 pages in double columns of tiny cursive script and several pages are missing.  It also contains some prayers in a different hand including the Pater Noster and prayers for the sick. The colophon attributing the book to Dimma is problematic as is also the story which claims it was found in a cave on the nearby Devil's Bit mountain. 
A shrine or cumhdach made in the twelfth century and embellished in the fourteenth century is now in Trinity College also.

Alison Rosse, 25 April 2006
Alison, Lady Rosse delivered a paper on Mary Ward (nee King) (1827-1869), microscopist, a native of Ballylin, Ferbane. Mary observed plants, insects and animals from an early age and taught herself the use of the microscope. She made detailed drawings of her discoveries, published her findings in books and made illustrations for other authors. Lady Rosse passed around examples of her work, including books she wrote which went into several editions. 
Like other women at the time, Mary received no formal education or admission to learned societies but she was encouraged by men such as Sir William Rowan Hamilton, Sir James South and by her cousin, the Third Earl of Rosse and his wife Mary Field Rosse, a distinguished early photographer. Mary King married Henry Ward and had eight children. 
She lost her life in Birr in 1869 in what was probably the first ever motorised vehicle accident - she fell off a steam carriage built by the scientific Parsons family, died almost immediately and was buried in Birr. There is an exhibition devoted to her work at Castle Ward, Co. Down.

Dr Rory Masterson, 20 March 2006
Rory's topic was the Reformation in Ireland during the Tudor period. Reform was needed in the mid sixteenth century but from where would it come and how was uncertain. Who would favour, who would benefit and who would resist and why? 
There was little opposition to the plans of Henry VIII at first, worship being in Latin and most people illiterate, but little by little serious resentment developed amongst the Old English gentry, the Gaelic population and of course, the religious orders over the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It would seem that doctrinal matters were less influential than political and economic issues as well as the suppression of popular devotions such as pilgrimages and the veneration of the saints. 
A policy of coercion after the rebellion of the Old English Desmonds, Baltinglass & Nugents, the influence of the Counter Reformation, the Gaelic language and the influx of the New English all contributed to religious polarisation in Ireland. Rory replied to several challenging questions.

Sean Ryan, 20 February 2006
Leap Castle, historic, atmospheric, ghostly, eerie - and the speaker for the night was present owner Seán Ryan, one of Ireland's most talented musicians. Without a note before him, he recounted stories heroic and gruesome, gloomy, creepy and inspiring of former inhabitants, principally O'Carrolls of Ely and their successors at Leap, the Darbys. 
He broke off the narrative to play a few tunes, including one he composed in honour of Margaret O'Carroll, 'the hospitable', one of the most interesting women of the fifteenth century. Other historic associations, good and bad, with Leap Castle include Garret Mor and Garret Og Fitzgerald, Hugh O'Neill, the Battle of the Nile and the founder of the Plymouth Brethren. 
The castle was burnt down during the Civil War but Sean and Anne with their daughter Ciara live there now and restore it bit by bit. It is open all year round by appointment.

Brian T. Kennedy, 16 January 2006
In the first lecture of 2006, Brian T. Kennedy spoke about Interesting Birr characters of the nineteenth century. The Third Earl of Rosse, a 'polymath', a 'Renaissance man', brought fame to the town by building the Great Telescope in the grounds of Birr Castle. 
His wife Mary Field Rosse distinguished herself at the then infant study of photography and his cousin Mary Ward, an early microscopist reputedly became the earliest Irish car crash victim at Oxmantown Mall, Birr in 1869. Recalling the Crotty Schism, an unfortunate nineteenth century revolt in the Catholic community in Birr led to the contribution made to to the town by Catherine McAuley and her Sisters of Mercy and several interesting facts emerged in the ensuing discussion.