News & Community Updates
Stay connected with the latest projects, discoveries, and events from the Bournea Reaching Out Society as we continue preserving and celebrating our local history.
Ireland Reaching Out
We held our first Ireland xo Bourney/ Bournea Parish Group meeting on Tuesday night 28th May 2013 in Lismackin Community Hall and it was a great success. We had fifteen people attend from the parish with more to join in the future. We had a lively discussion about a range of different topics. We discussed Ireland Reaching Out and explained what it is about. We discussed the website and how it is the tool to help us reach out to the diaspora. We gave out a list of genealogy websites and discussed the impact it plays on researching. We also discussed maps, nature, folklore, heritage, sport, the famine, religion and emigration etc. We elected officers and a committee; the elected officers are Tim Lee Chairman and Parish Admin, Michael Costigan Vice Chairman, Mary Madden Secretary, Michael Sheedy Treasurer and Liam Doran PRO. Other members of the group are Anne Feehan, Brigette Martin, Philomena Hynes, Esther Walsh, Tom Hennessy, John Ryan, Esther O Brien, Peter Byrne, Peggy Hanlon, Jim Kennedy and Mary OKeeffe. We got a list of people that would have left the parish many years ago from some of the volunteers that attended and we considered if every volunteer focused on there own townland for the moment and compile as much history and information on people who left the parish as they can. We briefly discussed the posts on the message board and we decided to let the volunteers try and get some information on them and we will deal with it in more detail at the next meeting. We also discussed the Cluster group who are having their first meeting on Tue 4th June at 8 30 in Roscrea with a view to helping other neighbouring Parishes get set up. We are having our next meeting on Tue 25th June at 8 pm in Lismackin Hall.
Year In Review
Bournea Reaching Out Historical Society began in 2013 when four founding members completed the My People, My Place, My Heritage course run by North Tipperary Leader. Inspired to preserve and share local history, they held their first meeting in May 2013 at Lismackin Community Hall, officially forming the Bournea Parish Group (now Bournea Reaching Out). The year saw major progress - from establishing a committee and Facebook page to hosting several successful local heritage events. Highlights included: A presentation by Henry Healy of Ireland Reaching Out and author Brian Kennedy from Australia. The Couraguneen Graveyard booklet, created with Bournea Parish Council. The Clonakenny Heritage Walk guided by Jim Kennedy. The launch of Liam Doran’s book, From Roscrea to New Guinea. A lecture by Professor Willie Smyth on the Famine in Bournea. Members also worked on family tree sessions, artifact displays, compiling lists of old parish family names, and expanding the Bournea website for genealogy research. The group attended several Ireland XO regional meetings and secured insurance cover for local events. Looking ahead, planned activities for 2014 included the Couraguneen Walk, Meagher/Maher Reunion, and a Parish Booklet for Christmas. Chairman Tim Lee extended thanks to all members for their dedication and enthusiasm in building a strong foundation for the society’s future.We got a list of people that would have left the parish many years ago from some of the volunteers that attended and we considered if every volunteer focused on there own townland for the moment and compile as much history and information on people who left the parish as they can. We briefly discussed the posts on the message board and we decided to let the volunteers try and get some information on them and we will deal with it in more detail at the next meeting. We also discussed the Cluster group who are having their first meeting on Tue 4th June at 8 30 in Roscrea with a view to helping other neighbouring Parishes get set up. We are having our next meeting on Tue 25th June at 8 pm in Lismackin Hall.