News and Events
Craigavon Historical Society fights for retention of Craigavon Museum Services
Museum under threat from Council cuts
Craigavon Historical Society was instrumental in the setting up of Craigavon Museum Services some 25 years ago so it was with alarm that we recently learned of proposals to be put before Craigavon Borough Council on 6th February 2012. We understand that three options have been drawn up; each of them would lead to a closure of Waterside House to the public, the loss of some of its valuable collections and a reduction in staffing and services provided by Museum Services (which would in turn lead to the loss of its hard won Museum accreditation). Our chairman, Rosalind Hadden, has written on behalf of the Society to all of Craigavon's Aldermen and Councillors expressing our concerns and strong support for retention of Waterside House and Museum Services as it currently stands.
Don't let them take away our museum. Contact your local councillor to express your support.
CLICK ON LINKS BELOW TO VIEW NEWSPAPER COVERAGE:
Lurgan Mail, Friday, 27th January 2012.
Portadown Times, Friday, 27th January 2012.
Portadown Times Opinion, Friday, 27th January 2012.
"Don't you know there's a war on?"
Craigavon Museum Events
7th November 2011 to 25th February 2012
"Don't you know there's a war on?"
A Visual Journey through the Home Front in Craigavon 1939-1945
An exhibition exploring the impact World War II had on the daily lives of people from Portadown, Lurgan and the surrounding districts. Artefacts, film, photographs and posters will be used to illustrate what life was like for local people, who had to live through rationing and blackouts, under the constant shadow of war.
Waterside House, Oxford Island, Craigavon
Monday to Saturday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Local History Lecture series
at Craigavon Museum Services, Waterside House, Oxford Island
Saturday 3rd,10th and 17th March at 11.00am
Admission free
3rd March: 'A decade of development' by Elaine Hill. This talk will illustrate the early development of Craigavon, using the Craigavon Development Commission photographic collection. This collection contains a comprehensive record of all the changes taking place in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is currently being digitised and this will be the first occasion these photographs have been on show at the museum.
10th March: 'Naturalists from Mid Ulster' by Pascal Downing. This talk will chart the local people who have explored and influenced natural history and botanical research, such as John Macoun and the Rev. Richard Barton.
17th March: To be confirmed
Contact the museum on 028 38 341 635 or museum@craigavon.gov.uk for further details
Recent Events
On Monday 21st November 2011 Charles Friel and Fred Cooper, two passionate historians of the age of steam, gave a talk entitled 'Irish Steam Cinema' in Craigavon Civic Centre. Further talks are planned; if you know of an historical topic that may be of waider interest, why not call into Museum Services and discuss with staff.
For more details about the exhibition, talk and future events to be hosted by Museum Services
please contact the museum on (028) 3834 1635
Society awarded Charitable Status
In April 2011 Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) accepted Craigavon Historical Society as a charity for tax purposes with effect from 21 September 2010 - reference XT22811. This permits the Society to make use of Gift Aid on subscriptions. It also gives us access to lower cost banking. These benefits will help us to keep our subscription rates to a minimum in future years. Any members who are tax payers and have not yet signed a Gift Aid agreement are encouraged to do so.
Society Outings
Members will shortly receive details of our evening and Saturday outings. We also plan to visit various sites open for European Heritage Open Days
Meetings
Our lecture season ended in April and meetings will start again with our AGM and Philip Wilson Memorial Lecture in September - meetings are held in the Lakeview Suite at Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre and start at 7.45pm, with the exception of the AGM which starts at 7.00pm. After the AGM, meetings are usually held on the second Tuesday of each month from October to April - but please refer to our programme to confirm dates of individual meetings. Visitors are welcome to all of our lectures, subject to availability of seats.
Funding from Craigavon Borough Council
In 2010 Craigavon Borough Council awarded the Society a grant of £588 from under their Good Relations Small Grants Scheme. This helped fund speakers, hire of venue, insurances, telephone and postage costs in the 2010/2011 season. We were delighted to receive a further award in the sum of £554 under this scheme on 23 May 2011. Part of this will be used to fund printing of our journal, Review, and its distribution through Craigavon Museum Services to local schools.
Click on link to read our September 2010 Newletter. Click on link to read our new revised constitution.
Review 2011 launched
Our latest edition of Review was successfully launched in Craigavon Civic Centre on 12th April 2011 and it has been very well received; the initial print run has sold out and further copies have been ordered. The editors are grateful for all the submissions which they received and encourage others to consider possible contributions to future Reviews.
The previous issue, Review 2009, with a special feature on World War II, was launched in April 2009 and a few copies are still available. Review 2007 the bumper 40th anniversary edition of the Society's biennial journal is also still available. These special Reviews includes parts one and two of a history of the famous Shillington family of Portadown and much more - 64 A4 pages on local history - not available elsewhere. Price per copy incl. postage and packing- £7.00 to UK, £8.50 to Eire and £10.00 to USA and Canada. Buy both and save £1.00. Email us for details.
Back to top of page