Transition Year students reveal the history on their doorstep

The 2024 Young Historian awards were presented recently to Transition Year students in four Leitrim schools.

The judges remarked on the excellent standard this year, and Natalie Fryde noted that much credit should go to the teachers: Seamus Mullen at Ballinamore Community School (BCS); Matt McVeigh and Norma Comyns at Carrigallen Vocational School (CVS); Brian Flannery at Lough Allen College (LAC); and Thomas Nolan at Mohill Community College (MCC).

Personal connection

The judges congratulated the students who connected personally with their story, were critical about their sources, and honest about their challenges. There was a very wide range of topics this year, with most students exploring their personal connection to a person, place or event in history.

Family histories and the revolutionary period were the most popular topics, though the overall winner and Best Leitrim History was Nicole Kellett’s (BCS) well-structured, informative and reflective history of the Ballinamore railway and how it shaped the town and Nicole’s own family through the generations.

Best non-Leitrim History was won by Lennon Grothe (LAC), for his illuminating history of his Goral heritage. Áine O'Reilly won Best in School for the well-researched story of her grandmother Margaret Fearns’ experience as an evacuee during World War II.

Young Historian awards at Ballinamore CS from left: Seamus Mullen, History Teacher; Fiona Slevin; Nicole Kellet, overall winner; Mary Conefrey, Leitrim County Library; Eamon Geoghegan, TY Co-ordinator; Diarmuid McCaffrey, Principal.

Honing essential skills

Seamus Mullen (BCS) noted how the programme has ‘gone from strength to strength’ and ‘the range of topics encapsulates the diverse cultural history and background of our students in the Ireland of today’, while ‘their research and organisational skills are easily transferable to any area or subject in the future’.

This opinion was echoed by Thomas Nolan (MCC) who said that students were ‘empowered to connect with their roots through local and family history, while honing essential research, organisation, and writing skills that will benefit them throughout their lives,' while Brian Flannery at (LAC) noted the value of the programme in requiring the students ‘to evaluate past events based on wide ranging historical sources thus challenging pupils to think critically.'

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Matthew McVeigh and Norma Comyns (CVS), lauded the programme as ‘a fantastic opportunity for students to dig deeper into their own past, either in their homes or in their locality.'

Mary Conefrey, Leitrim County Library, presenting a Young Historian award to Alan O’Beirne, Mohill

Diverse topics

Amongst the many noteworthy and memorable entries this year were Rebecca Reilly’s story of her great-grandmother’s safe house during the War of Independence, and Ava Gaffney’s empathetic story of the murder of John Harrison in Aughawillan in 1921.

Anybody wishing to know more about smelting on Sliabh an Iarainn should read Kayla Gill’s submission; similarly with Alan O'Beirne’s biography of Albert Reynolds and Reuben McCrann’s recounting of General Humbert’s path locally. Kate McCauley wrote a comprehensive and personal story of her great-grand-uncle, Joe Liddy, the renowned Leitrim Fiddler.

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Fiachra Curtis-McHugh wrote a fascinating story of an ancestor, Philip Sheridan, who emigrated and became an American Civil War General whose statue stands in Washington DC. The projects will be lodged in the Leitrim County Library Archives for future researchers.

The Young Historian programme was initiated by Fiona Slevin and Natalie Fryde in 2021, and is supported by Leitrim County Library.

All entrants received certificates, and all category winners received cash vouchers while the overall and school winners were presented with engraved Leitrim Crystal plaques – all sponsored by Leitrim County Library.

Visit www.younghistorian.ie to read some of the submissions from this and previous years. The website also has useful guidance on archives and online research sources for anyone interested in researching family and Leitrim history. For more information, contact Fiona Slevin at fiona@loughrynn.net

Mary Conefrey, Leitrim County Library; Lennon Grothe, winner best in school and best non-Leitrim history; Brian Flannery, History Teacher, Lough Allen College.

2024 Young Historian Winners

Nicole Kellett, The Ballinamore Railway & how it shaped my life, BCS: Overall Winner, Best in School, Best Leitrim History, Best Built Heritage

Áine O'Reilly, Operation Pied Piper: the story of Margaret Fearns, CVS: Best in School, Best Biography

Alan O'Beirne, Albert Reynolds, MCC: Best in School: Best Contemporary Irish History

Lennon Grothe, My Goral Heritage, LAC: Best in School, Best non-Leitrim History, Best World History

Reuben McCrann, General Humbert's path in my local area, BCS: Best 18th Century Irish History

Kate McCauley, Joe Liddy - The Leitrim Fiddler, BCS: Best Cultural History

Mya Gormley, Ceannabo's 8th Wonder of The World, BCS: Best Family History

Kayla Gill, Iron Smelter at my Grandparents' Farmyard, BCS: Best Industrial History

Ava Gaffney, Murder of John Harrison, BCS: Best Irish Revolution History

Fiachra Curtis-McHugh, Phillip Sheridan, America Civil War general, CVS: Best Military History

Kate Conefrey, Fr Peter Conefrey and the Anti-Jazz Campaign, BCS: Best Social History

Rebecca Reilly, Mary Anne Boyle's role in the War of Independence, BCS: Best Women's History

Áine O’Reilly Young Historian winner at Carrigallen Vocational School receives her award from Mary Conefrey, Leitrim County Library.