Upcoming cultural events in Donegal

Beanstalk

Hi all, thought I'd make a thread of some cultural events happening in Donegal soon if you'd all like to join in!

Here are a couple of things that are happening in Letterkenny, the first is a hedge school at the county Museum on 16th April at 3pm:

Murder, Arson and Plunder

4,000 witness accounts, 20,000 pages of sworn statements made by survivors shortly after experiencing their terror. Bosnia? Rwanda?

No, Ireland.

Donegal County Museum in conjunction with History Ireland Publications is hosting a History Ireland Hedge School on Saturday 16th April at 3pm in the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny. The theme of the Hedge School is the 1641 depositions. The History Ireland’s Hedge School Master is Tommy Graham (originally from Ballyshannon) and the panel of experts which includes Mícheál Ó Siochcrú (TCD), Jane Ohlmeyer (TCD) Patrick Fitzgerald (Ulster American Folk Park) and James Sharkey (Irish diplomat/ Former Ambassador). As always with the Hedge schools, the audience has equal say with the panel of experts.

The 1641 Depositions (Archives of Trinity College Dublin) are sworn witness statements mainly by Protestants, but also by some Catholics, from all social backgrounds, concerning their experiences of the 1641 Irish rebellion. Their testimonies document the loss of goods, military activity, and the alleged crimes committed, including assault, stripping, imprisonment and murder. This body of material is unparalleled anywhere in early modern Europe, and provides a unique source of information for the causes and events surrounding the 1641 rebellion and for the social, economic, cultural, religious, and political history of seventeenth-century Ireland, England and Scotland.

Propagandists, politicians and historians have all exploited the depositions at different times, and the controversy surrounding them has never been satisfactorily resolved. This is a unique opportunity for the public to learn more about the 1641 depositions and to take part in a discussion on this controversial period of our history.

Admission is free. All are welcome but booking is essential. For more information contact Donegal County Museum, 074 9124613, or museum@donegalcoco.ie

Beanstalk

There are also two great documentary film screenings this Saturday at the RCC.

Destination Donegal (Film Screening)
09 April · 15:30 - 17:00

Free Admission
Run: 70min

Destination Donegal, a specially commissioned film to coincide with an art and social history exhibition about people who have immigrated to County Donegal.

The film features the life stories of 12 people from around the world who all have made Donegal their homes (9 individuals and one group of 3).

Directed by Jeremy Howard
Researched & Produced by Ronan McConnell


Rockhill Remembered (Film Screening)
09 April · 14:00 - 15:00

Free Admission
Run: 65min

A documentary directed by award winning film-maker Stephen McCollum, researched and produced by Ronan McConnell and Jeremy Howard. The film takes an inside look at the social and military history of the Battalions stationed at Rockhill house, culminating on how the recent closure has affected both veterans and the local area in general.