The fourteenth edition of the Society's Journal Creggan was launched at a well attended gathering in the Cardinal O Fiaich Centre. The edition was a 20th Anniversary Commmorative one in memory of the late Cardinal. The Cardinal's sister-in-law, Mrs Deirdre Fee launched the journal. Some pictures HERE

The Society's monthly meeting was held, for the first time, in Creggan Church's Parish Hall. The speaker was Clive Scoular who gave a talk on the early days of the recent 'troubles' focusing on the Ulster Workers strike in 1974.

The Society's Annual General Meeting received and approved the Officers reports and they were re-elected unanimously for the incoming year. The members' sympathy and best wishes were extended to the Chairperson, Mary Cumiskey, who was uable to attend following a minor accident.

It was noted that the Journal was due this year and the Editor, Michael McShane, reported that most of the material had either already been received or was promised. Following a discussion about funding it was agreed to seek page sponsorship as had been done some years before.

The 2007 the Jem Murphy Memorial Lecture was held in Áras an Chairdinéil Ó Fiaich on Thursday 15 November. The speaker was Eamonn O Huallachain and his subject was John McMoyer, the betrayer of Oliver Plunkett.

The McMoyers, after whom the townland of Ballymoyer was named had, since the 14th Century been the keepers of the Book of Armagh, the 807AD Life of St Patrick.

McMoyer had been an implacable foe of Plunkett from the first, joined the Franciscan Order in 1667 and after a spell in Louvain went to Rome from where he was expelled for beheading a statue of Plunkett. The reasons for his hatred were complex; Plunkett was from the Pale, had asked to be appointed to the Archbishopric of Armagh, had adjudicated in favour of the Dominicans in a dispute with the Franciscans and was known to be keen to reform the Franciscan Order in Ireland.

McMoyer went to Spain where he was ordained and after 3 years returned to Ireland, becoming a curate in Killeavy which was a centre for the Raparees who were opposed by Plunkett. McMoyer was subsequently suspended by Plunkett who also advised people not to accept Communion from him. This increased McMoyer's hatred and he accused Plunkett to the authorities as planning to bring in the French army. He was not believed and was in danger himself of being executed. None daunted he mounted a concerted campaign to bring Plunkett to trial which started in July 1680 but collapsed in the absence of witnesses. However, Plunket was not released and in October he was taken to London where he was tried on 8 June 1681 before Lord Chief Justice Pemberton, the main witness being John McMoyer, and on 15 June he was found guilty and sentenced to death, the sentence being carried out on 1 July. Such was McMoyer's hatred that he persuaded his cousin to pawn the Book of Armagh for £5 to cover his costs. The money was never repaid and the Book passed out of the stewardship of the McMoyers forever.

Such was the infamy associated with his name that many of the McMoyers changed their name and there are no McMoyers to be found in Ballymoyer or anywhere in the six counties.

Plunkett himself forgave his accuser who was excommunicated by Rome and expelled from the Franciscan Order. He spent some time in gaol and, disowned by his own people, subsequently disappeared from History except that it is known that his later petition for the lifting of the excommunication was granted.

Eamonn's talk on The Flight of the Earls was the second event of the evening and it was evident that he was well versed in the subject, taking the audience through the main events and stages of the journey, undertaken to elicit the support of the Spanish King to the Ulster cause and also to avoid capture, imprisonment and possible execution by the English. He recounted the hardships of the journey undertaken by the 99 strong party of O'Neills, O'Donnells, Maguires and others - the atrocious weather, 21 days at sea - diversion to France and Belgium, rejection by the Spanish king, an epic 229 day journey to Rome, loss of most of O'Neill's treasure, the death of O'Neill's son, Hugh. O'Neill was destined never to set foot in his beloved Ireland again, dying in 1616 and, dying with him, Gaelic Ulster.

The Annual General Meeting approved the Officer's Reports and unanimously re-elected them for the incoming year. It was noted that the commemorative plaque for the five re-interred priests was ready for erection in the church and it was agreed that the Chairperson and Treasurer should be present to inspect the plaque prior to fixing. The production of the journal was discussed and additional material would still be welcome. The identification of possible speakers was discussed and the approach agree. Finally, it was noted that membership subscriptions were now due. Next meeting 2 March

The 2005 Jem Murphy Memorial Lecture will be held in Áras an Chairdinéil Ó Fiaich on Thursday 10 November. The speaker, Gerard McAtasney, will give a talk on the Famine in Co. Armagh, using previously unpublished material.

A fine sunny afternoon met the small group of Church of Ireland parishioners and their neighbours who gathered for the service organised by the Creggan History Society. The service has been held annually since 1988.

Officiating at the service was Rev. Sandra Pragnell. Also present was Rev. Richard Moore and Fr. John Heagnew PP Mullaghbawn.

Rev. Pragnell's address was based on the day's gospel of the Good Samaritan and will be published in full in the 2006 edition of Creggan. Afterwards the group adjourned to the nearby Parish Rooms for refreshments and dialogue.

Some photos of the event are available HERE.

The Vice-Chairman, Tony Kieran, welcomed Michael McKeown and Francis Gallagher who were representing the newly-formed Friends of the Newry Museum. Michael gave a brief outline of the genesis of the Museum and how the Friends were hoping to provide additional support for acquisitions. Michael McShane mentioned the role of the Cardinal O'Fiaich Heritage Centre in acquiring and displaying items and documents of historical and cultural interest in the South Armagh area.

Kieran McConville, a member of the Society, provided an interesting talk on the Dorsey National School from 1830 to about 1860. He began by tracing the broad history of Catholic education before and during the period of the Penal Laws, which, although draconian in their intended scope and severity, were hardly enforced in south Armagh. Hedge schools were overseen by teachers of mixed ability but throughout the centuries catholic parents remained keen for their children to be educated. He briefly covered Charter Schools and the Kildare Street Society both of which had schools in the area. The big change came in 1831 with the establishment of the national Schools, controlled the Commission of National Education, with appointed Commissioners and full time staff. Unlike the previous system which was church based, the new system was secular, providing help with setting up schools, assisting with teachers salaries and approving texts. The new system was welcomed by the Catholic Hierarchy but opposed by the Church of Ireland.

In 1830 the denominations in Dorsey combined to set up a school; they obtained land from the landlord, McGeough Bond, built a one-room school, appointed a schoolmaster and got underway. When the National System was set up the Group applied for the school to become part of it and this was granted. In fact, it was the first school in the area accepted under the new system.

Kieran ran through a number of the issues addressed by the new school, some of them controversial, but it survived and continued to flourish under a succession of masters, being used as a food distribution centre during the famine.

The possibility of erecting a blue plaque to Art McCooey was discussed and it was agreed to ask the Ulster History Circle to include it was one of their projects, with whatever help the Society could give. It was noted that this would fit in with the 'Poets' Trail' project and would involve the District Council and other agencies active in South Armagh.

It was noted that the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls was approaching and it was agreed to participate by building on the O'Neill legacy and Glassdrummond Castle in particular. Ongoing work was approved.

The next meeting is 7 April. There will be a talk by Kieran McConville on 'Dorsey National School - the early years'

The next meeting will be on Thursday 18 November when the latest edition of the Society's journal "Creggan" will be launched. Also, Fr. Denis Faul will deliver the Jem Murphy Memorial Lecture, on Oliver Cromwell.

The next meeting will be on Thursday 3 June.

The next meeting will be on Thursday 6 May.

See Chambers' Edinburgh Journal (Number 296) Saturday, September 30, 1837 for an account of the events.

The next meeting will be on Thursday 4 December.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday 12 November when Réamonn Ó Muiri will deliver The Jem Murphy Memorial lecture "The Burning of The Wild Goose Lodge".

A new Photo Archive section has been added to the web site.

The next meeting will be the Annual General Meeting on Thursday 6 February 2003.

• A short account of the launch is available HERE.
• Extracts from the book available HERE.
• A list of Society publications, price and how to obtain copies, is available HERE.

• The Guide to Cullyhanna Church and Graveyard will be launched.

• Clive Scoular will give a lecture on the events and personalities of the War of Independence.
• Preparation of a detailed guide to Cullyhanna Church and Graveyard is nearing completion. More details later.

"Awards for All" is a joint awards programme set up to help small groups in Northern Ireland. It involves the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.

• The tenth edition of "CREGGAN", the journal of the Society, will be launched.
• There will be a talk by a distinguished speaker on the topic of "The impact of women in Irish History"