The 1926 Drumcollogher cinema fireplace: A tragedy remembered 100 years later
On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, the American Irish Historic Society (AIHS) will host a web-based dialogue to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the 1926 Drumcollogher Cinema Hearth.
The occasion, titled “The 1926 Drumcollogher Cinema Hearth: Loss, Remembrance, and Commemoration 100 Years Later,” will characteristic Dr. Martin Walsh, an esteemed historian, and Mission Officer for the Oral Historical past Mission on the College of Limerick. The discuss will happen through Zoom from 5:00 PM to six:00 PM EST.
Dr. Walsh will delve into the tragic occasions of September 5, 1926, when a hearth swept by means of a makeshift cinema within the upstairs loft of a constructing in Drumcollogher, Co. Limerick, claiming the lives of 48 males, ladies, and kids. This devastating loss reverberated not solely throughout Eire but additionally inside the world Irish diaspora, eliciting condolences from world leaders like King George of England and Irish President W.T. Cosgrave, in addition to communities far and broad.
Past recounting the historic occasions, Dr. Walsh will share insights from his analysis, which focuses on the emotional trauma skilled by survivors and the prolonged group. Funded by the Royal Irish Academy, his venture goals to attach with Irish People whose ancestors might have preserved private accounts or correspondence regarding the hearth.
Walsh’s experience extends past this venture—he’s the writer of A Biography of Jesuit Richard Devane (2019) and An Oral Historical past of the College of Limerick (2023). Attendees may have the distinctive alternative to interact with him throughout this commemorative dialogue, shedding gentle on how this tragedy formed the collective reminiscence of Irish communities worldwide.
The occasion is free, however registration is required to entry the Zoom hyperlink. To register or study extra in regards to the American Irish Historic Society and its initiatives, go to AIHSNY.org. Be a part of the AIHS to mirror on this somber chapter in Irish historical past and honor the lives misplaced.
