To view a list of forthcoming Open, Advisory and Learn About Study with the OU events see
Other local events are listed below.
From right to left DCAL Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, PRONI Head of Public Services Stephen Scarth and Open University Staff Tutor Arts Janice Holmes.
The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), in conjunction with the Open University Ireland (OUI) will be delivering a lecture series, entitled, ‘Exploring Local History’ which will be hosted at PRONI’s brand new state-of-the-art Headquarters in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.
Commencing on the 29th September 2011 the series will be delivered by Dr Janice Holmes, Dr Olwen Purdue and Dr Barry Sheen from the Open University Ireland and will examine the major themes of local history and the sources available to local historians. PRONI staff will present examples of these sources from the archives.
DCAL Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said, ‘I am pleased to announce the launch of this joint lecture series between PRONI and the Open University. In particular my Department supports the organisers’ aim of tailoring the series towards those members of the community who may never have had the opportunity to benefit from a Third Level Education. Local history is very much part and parcel of who we all are, and I encourage anyone with an interest to come along and participate”.
Dr Janice Holmes, Open University Ireland said, “The Open University in Ireland is proud to be working in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland as it begins its first year in its new building in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter. The Open University in Ireland hopes that these lectures will enable people to develop their passion for local history and to give them the skills they’ll need to access the fascinating sources and documents within PRONI and other local archives.”
The lectures, which are free of charge (but booking is essential), will start at 6.30 pm in the Lecture Theatre of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. They will take place on the last Thursday of each month, apart from December, and will run until April 2012. The series is as follows:
29th September: What is Irish Local History?
27th October: Poverty
24th November: Industrialisation
26th January: Religion*
23rd February: Crime*
29th March: Urban History
26th April: Families
- *Due to circumstances beyond our control, the advertised lecture on ‘Crime’ originally scheduled for 26th January had to be postponed to 23rd February. Instead, Dr Janice Holmes will lecture on ‘Religion’. In her talk, Dr Holmes will explore the role of religion in local history and how people can find out more about the sources for religion in their local area. She will cover sources related to churches, clergymen, religious societies, schools and charitable groups and inter-community relations. Dr Holmes will also be providing the latest instalment in her ongoing research project into Kilwaughter parish, Co. Antrim.
If you can’t attend the lecture, they are being recorded. The whole series to date is available for viewing via PRONI’s YouTube channel, PRONIonline.
http://www.youtube.com/user/PRONIonline/
For more information visit at www.proni.gov.uk or call 028 90 534800. Bookings for the lecture series can be made by sending an email to proni@dcalni.gov.uk
Notes to editors:
1. PRONI was established under the Public Records Act (NI) 1923 for the reception and preservation of public records. The 1923 Act also made provision for the deposit of private records in PRONI
2. PRONI’s records cover every aspect of life from the Minutes of Cabinet Meetings to records of a local corner shop – from the thoughts and actions of the ‘great and the good’ to the reminiscences of the working man. The oldest document is a 13th Century Papal Bull.
3. The Open University in Ireland promotes educational opportunity and social justice by providing high-quality university education to all who wish to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential. Through academic research, pedagogic innovation and collaborative partnership it seeks to be a world leader in the design, content and delivery of supported open learning.
4. Media enquiries to Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office, Tel: 028 9051 5045 or email: communications@dcalni.gov.uk
