CARNAUN NATIONAL SCHOOL 
 The
Lambert Symposium
18 - 20th June 1999
Report - 20.09.'99
The Aim of the Lambert Project Society was:
1. To learn for ourselves and then to teach
our children and the local people aspects of the history of the Athenry
area. We needed to give them a better understanding of 'the Landlord times'
and to dispell many of the 'myths' surrounding those times. This was done
through the story of the Lambert families who had been with us since circa
1640 and who had a great influence on the area until their exile in the
early years of this century.
2. To make the Lambert descendants feel welcome
to visit Athenry to learn about their roots and to ensure that there would
be enlightened people in Athenry to make them feel at home and to help
them in their quest.
3. To offer the facilities of our school for
the purpose of helping to co-ordinate any visit, project or event involving
the Lamberts and the Athenry community.
This was achieved
through the very successful Lambert Symposium
held in June. Quite a number of Lamberts and their friends enjoyed a great
weekend and were happily surprised with the many local people who turned
out to make them feel welcome, dine with them and escort them on a historic
tour of of the old Lambert homes.
In order to celebrate this memorable occasion
a book 'The Lamberts
of Athenry' was produced. This book is
just a beginning and it only scratches the surface. It gives a glympse
of the genealogy of the main Lambert families and sets the scene for their
arrival and also looks at some aspects of the history of the Athenry area.
The genealogy of the Lamberts must come from the family and we promise
to do our bit to help. We will need the Lamberts to work with us on the
history of Athenry as it is as much theirs as ours.
Picture gallery:
Photos from Cathy
Katz: Click on captions to enlarg to enlarge!
Most of the photos were taken during the 'Tour of Lambert Houses' on
Sunday 20th June.
With Finbarr O'Regan and Martin T. Kelly conducting the tour the
visitors were brought to Aggard House and then on to Ardrahan and Cregg
Clare which was one of the first Lambert houses in Co. Galway before Cromwell's
time. Later we went to Castle Lambert where another branch of the family
lived and from there on to Moorpark where some of the ancestors are buried.
We all finished up in Monivea after a most enlightening and enjoyable tour.
The Dinner, in Castle Ellen House, on Saturday night was a great success
and enjoyed by all. Michael Keaney, the present owner, presided and an
interesting after dinner speech, on Edward Carson, was given by Professor
Etienne Rynne.
Professor Rynne gave the visitors a guided tour of Medieval Athenry
on Friday Evening.
At Saturday's Book Launch Donal Taheny gave a wonderful illustrated
talk on 'The Big Houses of Athenry'.
Castle
Ellen website
Lambert
Website
Address
by Mr. Noel Treacy, T.D. Minister for Science and Technology
At the official opening of The
Lambert Symposium In Athenry
Heritage Centre, 18th June 1999.
It is both a pleasure and an honour
for me to be here today, to formally open The Lambert Symposium.
I am particularly delighted to note the leading role that Carnaun
National School has played in the process, leading to the holding
of this Symposium. This School has clearly taken very seriously the
objective of ensuring that the Pupils "have the opportunity to achieve
Computer Literacy and to equip themselves for participation in the Information
Society". This is a core objective of the Schools IT 2000 Initiative
launched by us in 1997.
Another key objective of Schools IT 2000,1 is to bring about
a Partnership involving Schools, Parents, Local Communities, together with
Public and Private Sector Organisations, to meet the Projects ambitious
aims. What is taking place here in the Athenry
Heritage Centre this weekend, is a clear example of such a Partnership.
I wish to pay a very special tribute to all involved. What has been
done here is an excellent model for other Communities to emulate.
Ireland is a Small Country on the edge of Europe, but over
the ages our People have influenced developments, in many Areas of the
Wider World. We are now becoming more and more aware of this as we
also become much more conscious of the fantastic Heritage that we have
and which has "made us what we are". A Symposium
such as this helps to heighten our Awareness of this enormous Heritage
and it also makes us aware of the diversity of this great Heritage.
In reading about the Lambert Family, we can see how they
came to this area and how their coming influenced its History. It
is very interesting also to note the connection with Northern Ireland,
through Sir Edward Carson.
The following is a quote from the Carnaun
National School Web-Site " A small townland in Connacht, is unlikely
to be perceived as the 'cradle' of Ulster Unionism. Castle Ellen,
Athenry, County Galway, however, carries this distinction. Ancestral
home of Isabella Lambert, mother of Sir Edward Carson, is the link that
binds, the thread from which 'knitted mesh to mesh', this immortal fact
survives.
Sir Edward loved the place, spent much time there as a boy, came
there on holidays when a student in Trinity and played Hurling with the
Local Team. Known and loved, he mixed well with the Locals - 'Ned
Carson was a decent chap - a man of the People'. The rest is history!
"
I am certain that consideration of this will help us to realise
that all of the traditions on this Island have more reasons to live in
Peace than in Conflict.
While the focus of this Symposium is very much on Local Heritage
with, as I note from the Programme, Archaeological and Historical Walking
Tours, Talks on the "Big Houses of Galway", the launch of a Commemoration
Book on "The Lamberts of Athenry", a Cultural Evening and so on,
it is very important to note the way in which the
Internet - the Information Superhighway has contributed to the occasion.
Access to the Internet made it possible to find a Website
dedicated to the Lamberts. It provided the means of making contact
with other related Sites and also with the People responsible for those
Web-Sites. It has initiated a communication process between many
People, with an interest in the Lamberts and their connections.
It has shown us how small the great World really is now and how
we can much more effectively find any Information that we may require.
The Children are very much, at ease with this Technology
and it is important that they are, facilitated in their access to it.
As Schools IT 2000 is further developed by our Department of Education
and Science,, this access will be enhanced and we will ensure that our
Children have the skills required for Life, in the 2Ith. Century.
The Symposium Programme is very interesting and will provide
opportunities for all to learn more about our Heritage. I'm sure
that the Book on "The Lamberts of Athenry" will be of major interest not
just locally, but also to all of those who have connections with this Area.
I congratulate Mr. Finbarr O'Regan, Principal Teacher,
on his work in this regard. In drawing attention to the Internet
and the various Web-Sites, it will also make it easier to further develop
and maintain contact between People, not just in Ireland but in many parts
of the World.
I congratulate all of those involved in the organisation
of this Symposium. I am sure that all of the sessions will be well
attended and that much information and knowledge will be shared.
I especially congratulate the Children of Carnaun National School and their
Teachers on the work that they have done on "The Lambert Project".
I look forward to hearing more about them in the future.
Molaim rath Dé ar an obair agus
go n-eirí go geal, le gach duine a bhfuil baint acu, leis an ocáid
iontach seo. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.
Back to School projects!
Back to School Homepage!
SCOIL NÁISIÚNTA
CARNÁIN
 BAILE
ÁTHA 'N RÍ
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