November 2024 podcast
(episode 5 of season 3), genealogist Dave Miller talks about the November webinar, featuring Jane Kennedy. Jane’s presentation is titled “The Connemara of County Galway: Despair in the American Heartland” and is scheduled for November 16. This is a webinar-only event. Jane will talk about how many people in the western coastal areas of Connemara were given some assistance in 1880 to escape the ravages of famine and disease; however, they knew little about their new destination. They hoped to find a new homeland in America, but after 3,700 miles of travel, their destination in rural Western Minnesota was a prairie that scarcely resembled the Irish coast. As they settled in and began earning a living, they soon encountered one of the worst Minnesota winters ever recorded. You can register for the webinar through the Activities tab at left, or through our register link. [The Discount Code has been sent to members via email and is posted on IGSI’s member-only webpage (link).]
What is referred to as the Red Book of Ossory was recently placed on public display for the first time in St. Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny, Ireland. This book contains poems and songs written and composed by Richard de Ledrede, who was the Bishop of Ossory. The book dates back some 700 years and contains the earliest known recipe for distilling whiskey, or as they referred to it “aqua vitae,” the water of life. Whiskey was used for medicinal purposes due to the Black Death that was engulfing Europe at the time. Dave spoke to the archivist and librarian at the Representative Church Body Library in Dublin about the history of the Red Book of Ossory and what visitors can expect to see if they visit the display at St. Canice’s Cathedral.
The podcast also features the latest Irish History Minute. In this segment, Janelle discusses anti-Irish sentiment in America in the 1800s.These stories and previous podcast episodes are available on the IGSI YouTube channel.
