Trustees’ Annual Report for the Financial Year to 31-03-2024 Submission to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
Charity name: Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society Charity number: 100418
Address: Killymaddy Centre, 190 Ballygawley Road, Cabragh, Co Tyrone.
Names of Trustees: Sheila O'Neill Marie Quinn Peter Buchanan Eileen Quinn Sean Murphy Brendan Holland Richard Knox Briege Rafferty Raymond Cuddy Rosina O’Neill
Governance
Governance of Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society:
Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society is governed by its constitution which outlines how the society is organised and managed.
Structure and Management of Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society:
Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society is organised for the purpose to safeguard and promote the heritage of Killeeshil and Clonaneese. The objective of the society is to discover, collect and preserve documents and materials relevant to the history of Killeeshil and Clonaneese. The society aims to awaken and promote interest in Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical studies and bring together people of different traditions and backgrounds to record history, understand history, and make history.
Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society are managed by a committee of 15 whose members are appointed or elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
The office bearers are the chairperson, secretary and treasurer, who along with other members of the committee manage the society. The committee and sub committees plan, organise and implement history talks, social functions, research workshops, educational classes, field trips, exhibitions and archiving of historical material. Minutes are kept of all meetings and full accounting records are kept by the treasurer.
Purpose and benefit.
The purposes of Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society are to advance education, citizenship, culture and heritage and promote the benefit of the people of the Killeeshil and Clonaneese areas, and its environs of Northern Ireland (hereinafter referred to as “the area of benefit”) without distinction of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion, by associating the statutory authorities, community and voluntary organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to advance education, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants and in particular: a) to advance education about the history, culture and heritage of the area of benefit; b) to carry out research into local history by collecting and recording artefacts and information, and in particular forming an archive of works from the area of benefit; c) to educate the general public by promoting awareness of, and research into, the history, photography, culture and heritage of the area of benefit. Activities of Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society
Activities
The main activities of Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society include the delivery of history lectures with questions and answers session, the recording of lectures and archiving of power point presentation, delivery of workshops, family research and outreach programme, social functions, events and bus trips, research and delivery of history projects, adding history research content to the website, archiving and display of artefacts of cultural, heritage and historical significance to the area of benefit.
Achievements
Achievements of Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society include a commitment to continuing to deliver monthly talks in subjects of relevance to the history, culture and heritage of Killeeshil and Clonaneese. We have continued to research and gather new historical information relevant to the Killeeshil and Clonaneese area and presented this research through monthly talks and through building our archive. This research has been made available to members through talks and exhibitions. In addition, material is added to our website which remains relevant to the area of benefit. We continue to deliver a successful history workshop on Saturday mornings. This has enabled members of the public to come and research both local heritage and their family history. This service is free. This service continues to establish important historical links with our area of benefit and overseas with those who have ancestral links to the area. All information gathered are important additions to our history archives. We continue to host a local history forum on our website to enable information to be shared with those researching their local history. We continue to develop our historical heritage and knowledge through local history research. The society continues to be active in identifying areas of local historical significance and will highlight, if necessary, the need for heritage preservation.
The society continues to participate where possible in cross border shared culture peace projects and continue to support shared history events within the area of benefit. We have had several successful community events this year including heritage trail bus trips, midsummer barbecue, trip to Killymoon castle and the Ulster Museum. We have also continued to gather information relevant to our local townlands and placenames. The project gathers relevant history of populations, homesteads, people and buildings of note. We are continuously adding to our library archives of information relevant to our local history, heritage and culture. We continue to research and deliver new topics of research relevant to the local history contained within the area of benefit. Our talks are recorded and uploaded to our website and can be accessed by both local and international people with ancestral and heritage links to the area. This year again we have hosted visitors from Scotland, America, Australia and Canada seeking their ancestral roots in the Killeeshil/Clonaneese and wider area.
The Impact and Benefit to the Public
The trustees of Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society have complied with their responsibilities in regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit requirement’ statutory guidance. There is no private or personal benefit arising from the purpose of Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society.
Those who benefit from Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society include not only its members but members of the wider public both locally, nationally and internationally. Our website receives a constant stream of traffic which includes request for research help. Our monthly talks attract up on 30 people both in person and online attendance, representing people from both the Protestant and Catholic community. The talks followed by inforrmal discussions promote trust, understanding, mutual respect, the recognition and appreciation of our shared history, heritage and culture.
The admission fee remains priced at £3.00 for members and £5.00 for non-members and covers lecturer expenses and refreshments served. These talks are open to the wider public.
Our Saturday morning family history workshops are well attended and remain of benefit to the wider public which promotes shared history, heritage and culture. In addition, we facilitate NI library workshops at our premises on a wide range of topics from genealogy research to shopping online which attracts a wide range of people. This year we have also promoted health, culture and wellbeing within our membership through a variety of programmes attracting cross community participation.
The monthly talks and exhibition of material, seasonal events, and all other social gatherings held continue to benefit the public through outreach, social engagement, advancement of citizenship, sustaining good community relations, advancing education through dissemination of knowledge and the advancement of culture by identification and preservation of local traditions and heritage.
These benefits are apparent not only from the commitment and enthusiasm of our members who continue to support the society but also through the wider public expressions of appreciation and positive feedback received from those attending the society talks and events. The popularity of the website as representative in the numbers of people at any one time engaging with, accessing, and downloading material from the website are indicative of the benefits to the wider community.
Public engagement through our family history research forums enables greater understanding and sharing of knowledge of family history and of the historical heritage of Killeeshil and Clonaneese.
Financial Review
Killeeshil and Clonaneese Historical Society income is generated through membership, talks, heritage bus trip and social events. This amounts to membership monies of £632.00 in cash and cheques, paypal and through direct debits. There were no donations received from events organised. The bus trip, and social and history functions aim to be self-funding. The society was in receipt of grants from the Mid Ulster Council amounting to £450.00. Expenses include rent of premises, internet expenses, speaker expenses, social event expenses, computer maintenance, research material and office supplies.
There were no funds in deficit at the end of the financial year 31-03-2024
Report Authorisation:
This report has been signed by the secretary Eileen Quinn on behalf of the trustees who have approved it at their meeting on 28th January 2025.
Signature of Trustee: Eileen Quinn
Position: Secretary
Date: 28-1-25