Archive

History.
For over twenty years the Society has promoted an annual youth project. First introduced in 1980-1981, with sponsorship from the Irish National Insurance Co., the aim was to encourage young people to research our cultural heritage.

The competition was arranged in two classes: for those under 14 years old; and for those under 19 years old. In addition to monetary prizes the over-all winner was to receive a perpetual trophy. The first competition attracted 42 projects, the over-all winners being a group from Ballymurphy National School. From 1997 trophies were awarded to the overall winner in the two sections, group and individual.

It is a tribute to all concerned: organising committee; sponsors; judges; and teachers, that the project has continued down the years with its very worthwhile aim. Personnel have changed, sponsors have changed, trophies and prizes have changed, and the classes have changed, but the good work continues. The projects have taken a variety of formats including essays, photographs, drawings, maps, posters and models.

The quality of the best material has always been very high; a note is included below of projects which were subsequently published or provided material for publication.

Over-all winners:
1981	Ballymurphy National School: Through the eyes of a child - 1910.
1982	St John's Girls' School, Kilkenny: Some wells we have known.
1983	St John's Girls' School, Kilkenny: Some bridges of Kilkenny.
1984	Boys' National School, Castlecomer: Curing in 'Comer.
1985	Boys' National School, Castlecomer: The mill at Ballyhimmin.
1986	Johnstown Vocational School: Historical monuments of north-west Kilkenny.
1987	Boys' National School, Castlecomer: Mining in Castlecomer.
1988	Firoda National School: Blacksmith/farrier.
1989	Liz Manning & Marion Kelly, Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny: A brother to all.
1990
1991	Deidre O'Shea, Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny: Kells Mill (Mullins).
1992	Johnswell National School: Dead centre of Johnswell.
1993	Castlecomer Boys' School: A local sporting figure.
1994	St Colman's National School, Conahy: Mass paths, gates, stiles and field-names of Conahy.
1995	Derek Bryan, St Kieran's College, Kilkenny: St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny.
1996	St Colman's National School, Conahy: Field boundaries of Conahy.
1997	Clontubrid National School, Freshford. (Group) The way we were. Aine Mackey, St Brigid's College, Callan. (Individual) Windgap creamery.
1998	Model School, Kilkenny. (Group) The threshing. Daniel Shanahan, Vocational School, Ballyhale. (Individual) Billy O'Reilly, bootmaker: a trade fades away.
1999	Burnchurch National School. (Group) The old school. Pamella Cardillo, St Brigid's College, Callan. (Individual) An overview of local life and times, 1890-1900: Kilkenny city.
2000	Model School, Kilkenny. (Group) Our school. Catriona Ni Chonghaile, Colaiste Pobail Osrai, Kilkenny. (Individual) Keep the home fires burning.
2001	Model School, Kilkenny. (Group) Newpark Fen. Aoife Brett, St Brigid's College, Callan. (Individual) The history of the Brett Brothers.
2002	Seir Kieran's National School, Clareen, Birr. (Group) An old graveyard, Seir Kieran. Thomas Downey, St Kieran's College, Kilkenny. (Individual) Cashel Villa.
2003	St Colman's National School, Conahy. (Group) Curdeeks, trashins and much more. Audrey Walsh, St Brigid's College, Callan. (Individual) The Walsh family farm.

Project Co-ordinators/Secretarys:
Sheila Lane 1981, 1982,
Maureen Hegarty 1983-90
Dorcas Birthistle 1991 to 2004
Bernadette Dermody 2005

Published material:
Old Kilkenny Review 1992 carries two extracts, The River Barrow Navigation (p 382) from Anne Hamilton's prize-winning project, and Church of St John the Evangelist (p 387) from the project by St John's Girls National School, Kilkenny. And a teacher's perspective, Ballymurphy in 1910 (p 391).

In 1986 the Summer issue of Deenside included Ickle Ackle Black Bockle, a collection of street games played in Castlecomer.

The ancient church at Newtown-Jerpoint by Deidre Kilroy of St Brigid's College, Callan appeared in Old Kilkenny Review 1990.

A project by Ailbhe Cronin and Eoin Hunt on Castlegarden sweat-house, Co. Kilkenny, was edited for Old Kilkenny Review 1991 by our late member Ellen Prendergast.

A summary of the prize-winning project, Field boundaries of Conahy, by St Colman's National School, Conahy, appeared in Old Kilkenny Review 1997 (p 210). This project went on to win the nationwide Mi Wadi School Heritage Competition.

An article by Daniel Shanahan, based on his project, Billy O'Reilly, bootmaker: a trade fades away, is published in In the Shadow of the Steeple, No. 7 of 2001.

Old Kilkeny Review 2002 carries summaries of two prize-winning projects from 2001. The Land League House, Windgap 1881-2001 (from St Nicholas School, Windgap, Co. Kilkenny) and Mills on the River Goul (from Scoil Tighearnach, Cullohill, Co. Laois).