YSU History Program hosts series of lectures on Irish History

The Youngstown State University History Program collaborates with the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), America’s oldest Irish Catholic fraternal organization, to host former Prime Minister of Ireland Bertie Ahern for a pair of lectures, 10 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., Friday, Oct. 13.

Events of the day will take place at the Steel Museum located on 151 W. Wood Street in Youngstown.

Speakers will touch on some of Ireland’s momentous history, including the “Flight of the Wild Geese” and a historical interview on the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

Leading the 10 a.m. lecture, “The Patrick Sarsfield Repatriation Project”, is a look into Patrick Sarsfield, an Irish mercenary soldier and leading figure in the Jacobite army that fled Ireland in 1960 as the “Wild Geese.” The talk will be given by French Consul to Limerick, Loïc Guyon where he will further detail the repatriation of Sarfield’s remains following the lost Battle of the Boyne.

Following the lecture, YSU Professor of History, David Simonelli leads an interview with former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland Bertie Ahern, where they will cover events such as the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, a political agreement ending over 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland, signed by Ahern himself. 

National AOH President and YSU Director of Support Services, Danny O’Connell will be hosting Guyon and Ahern during their visit to the area and looks forward to the collaborative efforts between the AOH and the History Program. “This is a very exciting visit and a unique experience all around," said O'Connell. "I’m elated to be able to share the history of Ireland and to include our community such as Dr. Simonelli and his students in an event such as this.”