Fingal Festival of History 2020 launched in Swords Castle

The fourth annual Fingal Festival of History was launched yesterday by the Mayor of Fingal Cllr. David Healy.

This year’s festival will take place online with all talks being made available on the Fingal Libraries YouTube channel and social media platforms throughout the week of the festival from September 12 to 19.

The centenary of the Sack of Balbriggan takes place this year and provides the main theme for the Festival.

This year’s programme again features the History at the Castle day with a variety of speakers presenting on topics relating to the Sack of Balbriggan, the War of Independence and other political conditions relevant during this period of Ireland’s history.

Speaking following the launch, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David Healy said:

“With everything that has happened so far this year it is important to have a perspective on things.

“It is important that we take time to look back on our history, and it is fantastic that this year’s Festival of History will still be taking place.

“Like most events these days it will be done differently with all the history talks being recorded in the Chapel at Swords Castle.

“I would like to thank all of the Library staff of Fingal County Council who have made these talks possible.”

Talks being recorded in the Chapel at Swords Castle include a retrospective view of the Sack of Balbriggan from local historian and former Senior Librarian, Fingal libraries, Jim Walsh, events interlinked to the Sack of Balbriggan by Cllr. Cathal Boland, how the Sack of Balbriggan inspired Brian Gallagher’s successful children’s novel Pawns and the life of Molly Adrian by Lou Boland.

Declan Brady will examine Local Government and the War of Independence in Fingal; historian Brian Hanley will discuss the role of the Tans and Auxiliary forces during the War of Independence and Brian Dorney will discuss how the War of Independence unfolded in Dublin.