Autumn Seminar 2022 - Castletown House & Parklands
Photographs by Michael Coyne
Updated 15:00 22 October 2022
Huge thanks and praise to our speakers who kept the audience enthralled with their stories and historical information at todays Speaker Conolly Autumn Seminar.
Dr Suzanne Pegley spoke on Thomas Conolly MP of Castletown House. You may have passed his headstone at the gates of Castletown without noticing. Dr Pegley highlighted the complexities of Anglo-Irish identity. Dr David Collins gave a wonderful insight into early Anglo-Norman identity in Ireland through the prism of William Marshal. This Norman knight never learned to read or write, spoke French, but his impact on Ireland lives on through Hook Lighthouse, Kilkenny Castle, and New Ross. Celbridge and Straffan parish priest Fr Joe gave a heart warming account of growing up in Belfast during the 1960s and early 1970s. Both entertaining and emotional Fr Joe gave personal insight into the importance of empathy and reconciliation.
We are very grateful for the support from Kildare County Council, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, OPW - Office of Public Works and Castletown House & Parkland. Without their support this event would not have been possible.
Dr David Collins 
Dr Suzanne Pegley 
Fr Joe McDonald PP
PS.. Keep an eye out for Suzanne Pegley's upcoming book:
Thomas Conolly of Castletown House and the social network of Power (2022) Four Courts Press.