West Inishowen History & Heritage Society

West Inishowen History & Heritage Society Cumann Staire agus Oidhreachta Inis Eoghain Thiar. A local volunteer community group dedicated to the preservation of our local history and heritage.

West Inishowen History and Heritage Group was founded in 2008 after a public meeting in Buncrana Library chaired by the late Peter Gurrie (Chairperson 2008-2010). One of the society’s first tasks was to save the 19th c Buncrana Lighthouse from demolition. In order to do this the society successfully gained local support and funding, resulting in the lighthouse being fully restored and placed on a

plinth at Buncrana’s Shore Front where it can be seen today. For their efforts the society was awarded first prize at the 2012 Heritage Council’s Tidy Towns Heritage Awards for the Buncrana Lighthouse Restoration Project. In 2014 WIHHS also won first prize at the Tidy Towns Heritage Awards for the Buncrana Heritage project and Heritage Council for their 2015 NHW event ‘Archaeology for Kids’. In 2014 society members took part in the cross border/cross community History Links project which saw members of the society making audio recordings of elderly residents in the west Inishowen area, research and write articles for the project’s publications, attend genealogy workshops, create a coastal heritage walk, visit various museums and network with other history societies in the northwest of Ireland. In August of each year the society runs several events in conjunction with National Heritage Week. The society, (who are not for profit and entirely voluntary) have completed various short-term and long-term projects, between 2016 and 2019 the group catalogued the Mabel Colhoun Collection, an entire archive of the papers and artefacts of Mabel Colhoun, a mammoth task which was carried out entirely on a voluntary basis in conjunction with The Tower Museum Derry and Derry City & Strabane District Council. In 2020 the society surveyed the site at Cill Ard, Dunree where the medieval monastery stood. Using a specialist geo-physical surveying service, it was established that the remains of a monastery is on the site. The society organises trips to relevant archives to increase awareness; documenting, researching and photographing vulnerable or deteriorating heritage structures and ensuring that the relevant authorities are contacted; organising various archaeological surveys. Covid 19 restrictions meant that much of our activities were cancelled or suspended. As we emerge from the pandemic and as the associated covid restrictions are now rescinded, we are planning a full return to our usual activities. These will include walks and talks at places of interest and on various aspects of our history and heritage in the Inishowen area.

O. S SURVEY 1833 A.D Inishowen
22/01/2025

O. S
SURVEY 1833 A.D
Inishowen

Panel DiscussionThe panel discussion was chaired by Dr Sean Beattie.This two-day symposium marked the 200th anniversary of the Ordnance Survey’s historic con...

Address

Secretary, WIH&HS, 2 Street Eigneys Tce.
Buncrana
F93V9Y1

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when West Inishowen History & Heritage Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to West Inishowen History & Heritage Society:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

WIHHS ON TOUR

West Inishowen History and Heritage Group was founded in 2008 after a public meeting in Buncrana Library chaired by the late Peter Gurrie (Chairperson 2008-2010). One of the society’s first tasks was to save the Old Buncrana Pier Lighthouse from demolition. In order to do this the society successfully gained local support and funding, resulting in the lighthouse being fully restored and placed on a plinth at Buncrana’s Shore Front in 2010 where it can be seen today. For their efforts the society was awarded first prize at the 2012 Heritage Council’s Tidy Towns Heritage Awards for the Buncrana Lighthouse Restoration Project. In 2014 WIHHS also won first prize at the Tidy Towns Heritage Awards for the Buncrana Heritage Trail. Between 2012 and 2014 society members formed a West Inishowen wing of the cross border/cross community History Links project. Which saw members of the society making audio recordings of elderly residents in the west Inishowen area, research and write articles for the project’s publications, attend genealogy workshops, create a coastal heritage walk, visit various museums and network with other history societies in the northwest of Ireland. In June of each year the society stages its annual West Inishowen History and Heritage Summer School, where keynote speakers are invited to Buncrana to give talks. WIHHS also organise history walks, fun days, archaeological digs/surveys and other events during this week. In August of each year the society runs several events in conjunction with National Heritage Week. The group (who are not for profit) are always busy working on various short-term and long-term projects, some current ones include: cataloging and digitizing Mabel R. Calhoun’s collection at the Tower museum Derry. ‘The Heritage of Inishowen, its folklore and history.’ We organise trips to relevant archives to increase awareness; documenting, researching and photographing vulnerable or deteriorating heritage structures and ensuring that the relevant authorities are contacted; organizing various archaeological surveys; delivering conference papers with a West Inishowen theme; biographies of important local people; and creating a comprehensive bibliography of the West Inishowen area.