IW12119
Strabane History Society.. tharfty Comm155lon - Trustee Report
April 2018 - March 2019 Charlty Rel. NIC 103363
Alms
The main aims of the History Society are to promote the study of and active
participation in th¢ study of local history and folklife, the archaeology and antiquities
of the local area and to use the shared interest5 in such pastimes to help p¢ople to
come logether in a shared understanding of the past and a deeper appr¢¢iation of the
common slrands in local and communal development. The programme of the society
is design¢d io encourage a wider participation in the researching and pr¢sentation of
the past and providing opportunitie5 for people of varying ages and Interests to
¢hall¢ng¢ misinfomation and selective misuse of the p&st that fosters prejudice and
intol¢ran¢e. The society programme attempts through its programm¢ of meetings,
Lglks and visits to demonstrate the variety of approaches to historical study and
encourage members to become actively involved in research. discussion and sharing
ideas and methodology. Local and nationavinternational topics are encouraged and
meetings are open to non tnembers and to the wider community.
What it does
From time to time outings are arranged io places of historical interest, such as the
Titanic Quarter in Belfast or the Lakeland are of Co. Femianagh. On the occasion of
book launches members are invited to attend and share in the Celebratio￿ nonnally
marked with the attendance of the Mayor or other local celebrities. To date the
Society has published more than twenty titles and it is planned to digitize earlier
publications in order lo widen the availability of earlier research work.
The programme of talks and ¢vents for April 2018 to March 2019 was as follows:.
March 2018 - Returning Home from Woild War I - Seamus Breslin
April 2018 - The Conscription Crisis & the Collapse of the Irish Convention-
John Dooher
May 2018- Local Doctors, Chaplains & Prisoners of War- Leslie Craig.
John DooheT & Michael Kennedy
September 2018- Speeches, Strikes & Strnggles. The Civil Rights Movem¢nt
1968-73, by Emma McGarrity from the Tower Museum.
October 2018 - The increasing role of Women in the 20 Century by Pat
McGuigan & Michael Kemiedy
November 2018 - The War is over- Songs of World War I by Tracy Mccrory
December 2018 - The election of1918- 1, time vote for women and workers
by John Dooher
January 2019- Local Peopl¢ in World War I by Strabane Research Group
February 2019- Bishop Hervey, 18 century Refornier, Reconciler, Renegade
by Ken Mccorniack
Mawh 2019 - Spanish Flu & it's infiuence on I￿al society by Patricia Marsh
Q.U.B.

WorkiThJ for the Wider Public
The World War I project which has now ended involved a group of ten researchers
and the fruits of their labour is presented in three volumes on different periods of the
conflict. a compilation of newspaper archives in book fonn for the local library and a
datsb&s¢ of all thos¢ a¢tiv¢ly involved in th¢ campaign both in th¢ battl¢s and those
working on the home front. This involved working with the Heritsge Department of
the DerryCity.Strabane District Council and resulted in the publication of Sirabane
and World War l - Book 3 and a local promotional display of WWI items linking the
local to the wider international picture of1917-18: this provided opportunities for
community groups and school groups lo develop a clos¢r awareness of the
international as well as the local impact of the World War I period and to challenge
some of the over simplifications of Past events.
A data-base of casualties and participants from the district in World War I has been
developed and will be available for searching from early 2020.
omotion and CommunicotiorL.
The full progTamme foi the year is issued to members at the Sepfrmber and O¢tob¢r
meetings. Posters are sent by ￿5t, e-mailed or delivered to every members one w¢¢k
before each meeting, and the local press and parish bulletins carry inforniation of the
monthly meeiings. Local radio is contacted if there is an event which merits wider
circulation.
Strabane History Society is active on social medi4 using the web51te to broadcasi all
the above infomiation and making available relevant orticles and updates / changes to
the programme. There is much activity from the World wide audience as people from
as far away as the U.S.A., Australia and New £eaEand contact the Society for advice
on family searches and on items of interest. On occasions meetings have been
r¢corded and streamed to an interested audience overseas.
Administralion
The society is run by a committee who plan the programme of meetings and seek
involvement from the wider community. An AGM is held at the start of the society
year and officers and committee elected for the year ahead. Due to exceptional
circumstances the AGM had to be postponed this year from May until November
when reports were presented by the secretary and treasurer and elections held for
the various positions. This resulted in two new members in the overall committee
and a change of personnel in positions- Michael Kennedy moved from secretary to
chairman while John Dooher moved from chairman to secretary with Paul McElwee
becoming vice chairmari and long time society member, Bridle McGillian becoming
President. The treasurer's report suggested a favourable credit balance and the
external audit found the soclety finances in 3 healthy position.
This trustee report was provided by Secretary John Dooher and approved at the
November society meetin8.
Signed
John Dooher- outgoing chairman