THE Royal Irish Academy in partnership with Donegal County Council will launch the Ballyshannon Historic Towns Atlas in the Abbey Centre, Ballyshannon on Thursday, October 9.

The Irish Historic Towns Atlas (IHTA) was established with the aim to record the topographical development of a selection of Irish towns.

The Ballyshannon Historic Towns Atlas was researched and authored by Dr. Angela Byrne who will give a presentation entitled ‘Hidden Histories: Vanished Traces of Ballyshannon’s Past’ at the launch.

Dr Byrne, a native of Donegal, works at the Dictionary of Irish Biography, having previously worked at universities in Ireland, Britain and Canada.

She has published widely and curated exhibitions on Donegal local history, the history of travel and exploration, women’s history and the Irish diaspora.  

The famous Rory Gallagher statue in Ballyshannon.

Reflecting on the importance of this project, Sarah Gearty, Managing and Cartographic Editor at the Irish Historic Town Atlas said “Ballyshannon holds a unique place in Irish history, as a centre of strategic importance, cultural richness and commercial vitality.  

“In this atlas, we’ve aimed to uncover and present the many layers of its development over centuries, using maps and historical evidence to bring its past to life.  

“The project has benefitted hugely from Angela Byrne’s scholarship and we are delighted to celebrate many years of research, mapping and collaboration through the publication with Ballyshannon, a town deeply rooted in the heritage of County Donegal, now representing the most north-westerly town published in the atlas series not only on the island of Ireland, but in the wider European Historic Towns Atlas programme.” 

The International Commission for the History of Towns established the European project of historic towns atlases in 1955 in the spirit of reconciliation in the aftermath of the devastating destruction of European towns during the Second World War. 

The aim is the publication of a series of national historic towns atlases in order to encourage a better understanding of common European roots by facilitating comparative studies of the topography of pre-modern towns in Europe. Since then atlases of over 620 towns and cities in twenty European countries have been published.

“As part of the implementation of the new County Donegal Heritage Plan, the Culture Division of Donegal County Council was pleased to support the publication of the Irish Historic Towns Atlas for Ballyshannon” said Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer.  “Ballyshannon occupies a unique standing in the county as regards the Historic Towns Atlas initiative in that it is the only town in the county where the prerequisite historic maps exist.  

“The Irish Historic Towns Atlas for Ballyshannon represents over ten years’ research – much of it on a voluntary basis and directed by the Royal Irish Academy.  

“The Irish Historic Towns Atlas will be a valuable resource to document and interpret aspects of Ballyshannon and its development, to highlight the cartographic and archival sources of information that exist, and to raise awareness and encourage the conservation of the town’s heritage.” 

The publication of the Irish Historic Towns Atlas for Ballyshannon will include a 10,000-word descriptive essay; 700 site histories; maps, views and images as large-format facsimiles; comparative and thematic maps; and an extensive bibliography of sources.

The publication is funded by the Royal Irish Academy, Donegal County Council and The Heritage Council as part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan. 

The atlas will be launched by Dr. Easkey Britton, a social ecologist from Rossnowlagh and the event gets underway at 6pm. 

The launch event is free and open to the public.  Advance booking is recommended.  To reserve a place, please contact the County Donegal Heritage Office at heritage@donegalcoco.ie or by telephone at (074) 916 3824.  

The Ballyshannon Historic Towns Atlas will be on sale at the launch event at a cost of €30.

MAIN PICTURE: Pictured in Dorrian’s Imperial Hotel during a recent visit to Ballyshannon are members of the Irish Historic Towns Atlas Team and representatives from Donegal County Council and the Ballyshannon Regeneration Group.  From left to right are: Jennifer Moore (Editorial Assistant, IHTA, Royal Irish Academy), Judith McCarthy (Curator, Donegal County Museum), Sarah Gearty (Cartographic & Managing Editor, IHTA, Royal Irish Academy), Barry Sweeny (Ballyshannon Regeneration Group), Alison Roche (SPUR Student, Maynooth University), Dr. Angela Byrne (Author, IHTA Ballyshannon, Royal Irish Academy), Prof. Howard Clarke (IHTA Editorial Board), Dr. Joseph Gallagher (Heritage Officer, Donegal County Council), Dr. Michael Potterton (Chair, IHTA Editorial Board, Maynooth University), Dr. Ruth McManus (IHTA Editorial Board, Dublin City University) & Prof. Anngret Simms (IHTA Consultant Editor).