Local historian to launch 2026 Old Athlone Society programme

The Old Athlone Society is excited to kick off its 2026 programme with a special lecture by local historian Pádraig Lenihan, on Wednesday, January 14.

The Athlone native has a deep expertise in Irish military history, and will deliver a talk titled "Sieges without Guns: Athlone and the Midlands, December 1641 – February 1643." The lecture will explore the dramatic and often harrowing experiences of Athlone and surrounding areas during the early years of the Irish rebellion.

A former army captain turned academic, Pádraig is now a lecturer at the University of Galway and is regarded as one of the foremost authorities on seventeenth-century Irish warfare. His latest book, Siege in Ireland, 1641-53, examines the siege experiences through survivor testimonies, focusing on both soldiers and civilians.

His talk will highlight eyewitness accounts to bring the 1641-1642 sieges to life, particularly the struggles of settlers and soldiers trapped in strongholds from Boyle to Borris.

The event will take place at 8pm in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel and is open to all. New members of the society are encouraged to attend, and early arrival is recommended to secure a seat.

For more details, visit athlonehistory.ie.