Decade of Centenaries

Monaghan County Council’s Decade of Centenaries Programme

Since 2013, Monaghan County Council through the Library and Museum services have been delivering a diverse programming of engagement, from our One Book One County annual project where we are reading a book relating to that particular period in Irish history, to researching and discovering the poets and writers of this revolutionary period, Autumn lecture series, or bringing to life through digital animation key events of Monaghan history of 100 years ago, to the many research projects working with academics, local historians and creative practitioners leading to the award winning exhibitions in our County Museum. We work with many local, regional and national partners and for 2021-2023 we will be engaging on a key multi-disciplinary collaborative project including cross border partners in bringing to life our project ‘Bordering Realities’ through exhibitions and events in 2023 at new home of The Peace Campus in Monaghan town for the County Museum and Monaghan branch library.

For more information about Monaghan’s Programme go to https://www.decadeofcentenaries.com/local-authorities/

The Decade of Centenaries Programme was initiated in 2012 and complements the on-going programme of annual State commemorations. The centenaries programme is broad and inclusive, highlighting the economic and social conditions of the period, the shifts in cultural norms and the experience of the Irish abroad. For more information on the national programme go to https://www.decadeofcentenaries.com/

2012 – 2023 Programme

The aim of the State centenary commemoration programme for the years from 2021 – 2023 is to ensure that this complex period in our history, including the Struggle for Independence, the Civil War, the Foundation of the State and Partition, is remembered appropriately, proportionately, respectfully and with sensitivity.

The 2023 Programme is available to view now.

A specific key objective of the initiative is to promote a deeper understanding of the significant events that took place during this period and recognise that the shared historical experience of those years gave rise to very different narratives and memories. Here are some of the key highlights for 2021 https://www.decadeofcentenaries.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/DOC2012-23/

Office of the Cathaoirleach History Writing Competition

Since 2022, Monaghan County Council through the Office of the Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council’s Library and Museum services, invites children and young people to research and write about county Monaghan during the period celebrated in the Decade of Centenaries. This competition intends to complement the history curriculum in primary and secondary schools. We hope it can promote an interest and awareness in local history.

Check out the previous winners :

2022 Primary school winners

2022 Secondary school winners (Junior & Senior cycle)

2023 Primary school winners

2023 Secondary school winners (Junior & Senior cycle)

Alternatively, you can check out the winning entries in Flipbook format

Podcast: 1921, The Monaghan Perspective

1921 was a remarkable year for Ireland. What were the people of county Monaghan reading about at the time? Was the news from Dublin reaching them or were local opinions and events the topic of the day? Conal McCrudden from Monaghan County Libraries and Michael Fisher from The Northern Standard trawled through the local Newspaper archives. Listen to the podcast to ind out more.

Experiences of Border Minority Communities: Historical Perspectives

In 2021, we were delighted to host an online conference as part of our Decade of Centenaries programme. The conference was streamed live on Monaghan County Museum’s Facebook page and can be viewed here. You can also stream on You Tube if preferred. See: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7F8OPKm7Ii4gTp2QcoSDIg

Experiences Of Border Minority Communities Historical Perspectives Programme Outline

Check out Monaghan County Museum’s webpages for related online exhibitions https://monaghan.ie/museum/

Monaghan’s War of Independence, 1919-1921

Monaghan County Museum collaborated with Prof. Terence Dooley, Maynooth University on the publication of ‘Monaghan’s War of Independence, 1919-1921’. See full text: Monaghan’s war of Independence, 1919-1921