Maynooth University Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO)

19:00-20:30

At school we are/were told to not write in our textbooks. However, these annotations often reveal clues that help us discover interesting details about the books themselves (who owned them; how, where, and when they were used etc.). Occasionally, if we are lucky, these clues allow us to rediscover facts about forgotten stories from our past.
In this talk I will give an overview of the interesting histories that we have uncovered when studying the annotation in mathematical and scientific texts in the Russell Library at Maynooth. For example, we discovered details about how the seminary was established at Maynooth and the staff who taught there, including their ownership of texts which were banned by the Catholic Church. More spectacularly, we found links to fake plots to assassinate King Charles II of England, and uncovered details of a long-forgotten 17th century transatlantic voyage.

Dr Ciarán Mac an Bhaird is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Originally from Lough Egish, Co. Monaghan, he has lectured at Maynooth since 2007. Much of his research has focussed on measuring the impact of initiatives to support student learning and understanding of mathematics. More recently, his research has focussed on the history of mathematics, and especially studies of collections in libraries at Maynooth and elsewhere.

Booking link

Mathematical Books Histories exhibition tour in the Russell Library
Join staff of the Russell Library for a tour of the Mathematical Books Histories exhibition which focuses on our unique collection of mathematical texts from across Europe.
The works on display are featured in the recently published book Mathematical Book Histories: Printing, Provenances, and Practices of Reading', edited by Philip Beeley (University of Oxford) and Ciarán Mac an Bhaird (Maynooth University). The tours, limited to 20 people and there are four options available on the booking link:

• 11 February at 11:00
• 11 February at 14:30
• 13 February at 11:00
• 13 February at 14:30

Meeting point:
Main Entrance, St Patrick's College, Maynooth. We will walk to the Russell Library together as a group.
Google maps: Main Street W23 NX63 Maynooth

Booking link

19:00-20:30

This talk will examine life in Carton House and the town of Maynooth in the early 1800s through the eyes of a tutor to the Duke of Leinster's children.

Dr Ciarán Reilly is an historian of 19th & 20th Century and lectures in the Department of History, Maynooth. He is also Assistant Director of the Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses & Estates.

Booking link

19:00-20:30

The Mallaghan Family were custodians of Carton House from 1977 to 2017, a period which saw Carton transformed from a dilapidated, rundown private estate into a modern, vibrant hotel and leisure development and opened for the first time in its history to the public.

Conor Mallaghan led this rebirth with his father Lee and will outline the ups and downs of the 40 year tenure of the Mallaghan Family at Carton House. The talk will outline the significant challenges faced in transforming and restoring one of Irelands finest listed Houses and Estates.

Booking link

19:00-20:30

This talk will consider how the first fifty years of the 20th century were an unfortunate time, both socially and financially, for the Fitzgerald family, the Earls of Kildare and the Dukes of Leinster, that ultimately culminated in the collapse of their connection to Maynooth. The talk will look at the final throes of their struggle to maintain the house and estate, through complicated issues of financial insecurity beginning in the early years of the 20th century until the final sale in 1950.

A Canadian, Dr Suzanne Pegley first came to live in Maynooth in 1973 after her marriage to Charlie. In 1987 they settled in Leixlip, his homeplace. Suzanne has tutored and taught in the geography department since achieving her BA Hons degree in 2004 and her PhD in Historical Geography in 2018. Suzanne has only recently retired as a lecturer in geography here at Maynooth University. Her publications include Thomas Conolly of Castletown House and the social networking of Power (2022) and The Land Commission and the First Gaeltacht Colony, Rath Cairn Co Meath, (2011)

Booking link

19:00-20:30

Dr. John-Paul Sheridan, a lecturer at St. Patricks Pontifical University will take you on a tour of the iconic nineteenth College Chapel from the history of its foundation to the architecture and the decoration.

Dr John-Paul SheridanDr John-Paul Sheridan is a priest of the Diocese of Ferns and from 2014 has been a lecturer at St. Patrick's Pontifical University.  He was co-editor (with Salvador Ryan) of We Remember Maynooth, published in 2020.  He has a huge interest in the history of the South Campus, in particular the College Chapel.

Meeting point:
Main Entrance, St Patrick's College, Maynooth. We will walk to the Chapel together as a group.
Google maps: Main Street W23 NX63 Maynooth

Booking link

19:00-20:30

This talk will examine the extent of the Land War of the 1880s in county Kildare looking at some of the key personalities and events.

Tom Nelson is a retired secondary teacher. He graduated from Maynooth in 1979 with a degree in English and Modern History. His undergraduate research project on the Land War in Kildare was published in 1985 as part of the Maynooth Historical Series. He returned to complete his PhD in the University in 2008

Booking link

19:00-20:30

Eoghan Ó Gramhnaigh, a former student of St Patrick's and a former Professor of Irish, is laid to rest in the College Chapel, in a little oratory just to the right inside the gate. Ó Gramhnaigh did not, however, die in Maynooth, nor even in Ireland. Having gone to America in search of drier climes for health reasons, he died in 1899 aged just 36, and was buried in LA. This was a critical time for the Irish language. Conradh na Gaeilge had been established in 1893 and a new emphasis was being placed on Irish language and culture. Ó Gramhnaigh had been actively involved in Conradh na Gaeilge, which by the time of his death was gaining momentum in America, and his dedication to the Irish language was widely recognised. In fact, he was considered by many to be a symbol of Gaelic Ireland and the decision was taken, therefore, to exhume him and to bring him home; to lay him to rest among his own. Thus began a great journey from Los Angeles to Maynooth, with numerous stops along the way, numerous funerals, and Ó Gramhnaigh's fame growing with every stop.

Tracey Ní Mhaonaigh is an Associate Professor and Head of the Nua-Ghaeilge Department here in Maynooth University, and editor of Irisleabhar Mhá Nuad. She graduated from Maynooth with a BA in Nua-Ghaeilge and History, an MLitt in Nua-Ghaeilge and a PhD in 2008 for which she carried out a critical analysis of Croí Cainte Chiarraí,a collection of more than 2 million words and phrases in Kerry Irish. She has a particular interest in linguistic and cultural history, and in the fortunes of the Irish language here in St Patrick's College. She has published a number of books in recent years, As Tobar an Doibhlinigh, Tháinig do Litir..., The Life and Legacy of An tAthair Eoghan Ó Gramhnaigh agus Ó Chófra Chuallacht Cholm Cille, as well as a number of volumes of Irisleabhar Mhá Nuad and Léachtaí Cholm Cille.

Booking link

Opened in 1984, the John Paul II Library is the heart of the Maynooth Campus. Since its extension in 2013 the library foyer has been a popular welcoming space for the local community.

Some of the highlights will include seeing our collection of over 400,000 print items on over 10km of shelving and learn about our different study spaces, the foundation stone, blessed by Pope John Paul II on his visit to Maynooth in 1979, our Energy Pods, designed to revive you with a power nap, the power of 3D printing, and the 1916 Proclamation - one of a few in public hands.

There are two tour times for this event 14:30 and 19:00. Both options are available from the booking link below.

Booking link

19:00-20:00

A tour of the Science & Ecclesiastical Museum at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, highlighting the history of the museum and some of its interesting items.

Dr Neil Trappe is a senior lecturer in the Experimental Physics Department at Maynooth University. His research interests are in the field of optical design and analysis especially for astronomical instrumentation. He became curator of the Science & Ecclesiastical Museum in 2023.

Meeting point:
Main Entrance, St Patrick's College, Maynooth. We will walk to the Museum together as a group.
Google maps: Main Street W23 NX63 Maynooth

Booking Link