Exploring History Through Objects

Join us for an illuminating conversation with three writers whose books explore stories from history through objects. Lar Joye’s Forged in War: The Artifacts that Shaped Ireland’s Military History (Wordwell Books) highlights the objects and artifacts that have shaped Ireland’s military history. Turtle Bunbury’s Laois in 100 Objects (Wordwell Books) is a unique history of the county from prehistory to the present day. Siobhán Doyle’s Irish Sport in 100 Objects (Merrion Press) brings us around Ireland to discover objects that carry extraordinary sporting stories.

Please note we may be capturing candid imagery at this event for use on our social media and website.

Turtle Bunbury, an Irish author, historian, broadcaster, and award-winning podcaster, is renowned for his engaging storytelling, meticulous research, and work in documenting and preserving Irish history and heritage.

Siobhán Doyle is a cultural historian and works in the National Museum of Ireland. She holds a PhD in Museum Studies from Technological University Dublin and has lectured in Design History. Siobhán is from Co. Wexford and has studied and worked in museums in Dublin for ten years. Her 2022 book A History of the GAA in 100 Objects was shortlisted for Sports Book of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards that year.

Lar Joye is Port Heritage Director at Dublin Port. Previously he curated the award-winning Soldiers & Chiefs the Irish soldier at home and abroad from 1550 exhibition at National Museum of Ireland, described as a museum with a museum. He played a key role in the Decade of Commemorations 2012-2017 involved in a variety of projects including the 1913 Lockout: Impact & Aftermath and Banners Unfurled exhibitions and the WWI exhibitions Recovered Voices 1914-1916 & War in the Mud, the Irish Soldier on the Western Front, 1917. He represented the National Museum on the Irish Battlefield commission and on the Moore Street and GPO projects. In 2016 he was historical adviser for An Post’s 2016 commemorative stamp series. More recently he has partnered with the theatre company Anu productions on the plays Pals- the Irish at Gallipoli, Sunder and These Rooms.

Catriona Crowe is co-presenter, with Diarmaid Ferriter, of the RTE history podcast What Were We Like?, and Curator of First Thought Talks at the Galway International Arts Festival. She was formerly Head of Special Projects at the National Archives of Ireland.  She is Chair of the SAOL Project, which helps women with addiction issues in Dublin’s North Inner City.

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