History society look back on very busy year at AGM
The new committee of the Bre Chualann History Society. Front (from left): Nancy Mahony and Eva Sutton. Back: Brian White, James Scannell, Colm Mccormack, May Harte, Sybil Connolly and Jim Lynch.
2011 was an extremely busy year for the Bray Cualann Historical Society, according to Society Chairperson Brian White speaking at its AGM last Thursday night.
The meeting was held in the Bray Chamber House and members were handed a 4-page printed report covering all the Society's activity for the year.
One of the highlights was the attendance of President Mcaleese as Guest of Honour last February in Bray Civic Offices at the launch of the Society's special Journal to mark the centenary of the birth of Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, 5th President of Ireland, and Bray Library.
In June the Society also became the first Irish local history society to present copies of its publications to the Princess Grace Library in the Principality of Monaco and was presented in exchange with a copy of 1654 map of Bray.
Brian White also read out a section of the current issue of Local History News, published by the British Association for Local History, reporting on the launch of the Journal and the Presidential visit.
The annual report and that of the Hon. Treasurer were adopted unanimously. Elected as committee for 2012 were Colm Mccormack, Brian White, Eva Sutton, May Harte, Sybil Connolly, Jim Lynch and James Scannell.
At the first committee meeting in February the officer posts of the Society will be filled by interval election.
A special presentation was made to Jim Lynch in recognition of his many years of dedicated service to Society and especially for all the co-ordination work he carried out on the Journal launched last February.
The audience was treated to two presentations. Local photographer Aoife Hester screened a selection of Images of Bray which she had taken over the past year, some of which were in black and white, and were greatly appreciated by the audience as these views of Bray were ones that one would normally see.
The second and closing presentation was given by Brian White on ' The Brabazons: From Belgium to Bray' in which he provided the audience with a brief outline history of this family, its many achievements; places in Bray, Ireland and England, associated with it, and links to the award winning TV series Downtown Abbey and the RMS Titanic.
The Spring programme includes a talk by Kevin Meade on February 16 'A Look Back in Time - Bray & District Motor Cycle Club,' followed by a presentation on ' The Guinness Family' by Joan Sharley on Thursday March 15.
On April 19 RTE cameraman Geoffrey Graham will talk on '40 Years Behind the Lens,' while Professor Mike Cronin will deliver his lecture 'From Playing Pitches to Stadia - A History of Sport in Ireland,' on Thursday May 17/
All these lecture will take place in the Bray Chamber of Commerce House, 10 Prince of Wales Tce., Quinsboro Road, Bray, and all are welcome to attend. Admission is €4 for visitors.
