MONAGHAN HISTORIAN’S NEW
EXHIBITION LAUNCHED AT MAYNOOTH

A new exhibition, “Burning the Big House”, prepared by leading Irish historian Professor Terence Dooley, who grew up in Killanny in Co Monaghan, was launched at Maynooth University this week. The exhibition, which deals with the experiences of the Irish aristocracy during the War of Independence and Civil War periods, was launched by Cavan/Monaghan TD and Government Minister Heather Humphreys in the university’s John Paul II Library. The acclaimed Co Monaghan historian and author is currently the Director of the Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses and Estates at Maynooth.

“Burning the Big House” was described at its launch as “an extraordinary piece of work” by Minister Humphreys, who paid tribute to the years of research, hard work and dedication Professor Dooley had devoted to it. “As you know, Terence is a fellow Monaghan person,” the Minister told the large launch attendance.

“Through this exhibition, Professor Dooley and his team introduce the experiences of the Irish aristocracy, or former landed elite, who found themselves caught up in the War of Independence and the Civil War. “This exhibition was first opened in March in the Irish Architectural Archive in Dublin by another Monaghan woman, my Cabinet colleague Catherine Martin TD, and this is the second location of what is a countrywide tour.

“This is an important element as we remember that there were few areas on the island of Ireland unaffected by the events of this period of our history. “The exhibition also adds to the growing wealth of research and material that is now ever more accessible as a result of the Decade of Centenaries Programme.

“The exhibition features houses from all over Ireland and I was particularly interested in my own county of Monaghan. “For example: one of the most striking images is of Major General Dan Hogan who commandeered Lough Bawn House in Monaghan in September 1921, sitting in military uniform holding a gun during the occupation of Lough Bawn House. “This well-choreographed portrait at the front of the Big House left no doubt that a…