RCB Library Notes30 Aug 10

Religion and Society in Kilmore Explored at History Conference

Speaking at the end of a one-day conference on religion and society in the diocese of Kilmore held at Cavan County Museum, Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, on Saturday, the Bishop of Kilmore, the Rt. Revd Kenneth Clarke, commended the high-quality of lectures presented and interest they had generated amongst the audience.  In particular, he acknowledged how painstaking research using primary source material helped to “recover the truth”, which was the most important lesson of history – “to release the truth so as learn from mistakes made in the past” … and “provide incisive analysis so as to build a better society in the future”.  

A combination of young local historians as well as academics from NUI Maynooth, Oxford University, Trinity College Dublin and St Patrick’s College Drumcondra, delivered lectures on such wide-ranging topics as the Farnhams and evangelism in Cavan, the Revd John Richardson and the Irish language, the role of Catholic clergy in poor relief, Catholic and Protestant relations in 17th-century Kilmore, Church of Ireland records, and the experience of the Presbyterian and Methodist communities. These were followed by discussion with a panel of experts.  

In addition to Bishop Clarke, Church of Ireland representation included Canon John Crawford, and Dr Susan Hood, of the Representative Church Body Library, while the ecumenical spirit of the event was emphasised by the presence of the former Bishop of Clogher, Dr Joseph Duffy, who opened the event, and representatives of other churches.