YSU History Program to Host Speaking Events on Irish History

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown State University history program, in collaboration with the Ancient Order of Hibernians, will host a pair of speaking events on Irish history.

The events are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Friday at the Steel Museum, 151 W. Wood St.

Leading the 10 a.m. lecture, “The Patrick Sarsfield Repatriation Project,” is a look into Patrick Sarsfield, an Irish mercenary soldier and leading figure in the Jacobite army that fled Ireland in 1960 as the “Wild Geese.” The talk will be given by Loïc Guyon, French consul to Limerick. He will detail the repatriation of Sarfield’s remains following the lost Battle of the Boyne.

Following the lecture, David Simonelli, YSU professor of history, will lead an interview with Bertie Ahern, former prime minister of Ireland. They will cover events such as the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, a political agreement ending over 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland, signed by Ahern himself. 

“This is a very exciting visit and a unique experience all around,” said Danny O’Connell, Ancient Order of Hibernians president and YSU director of support services. “I’m elated to be able to share the history of Ireland and to include our community such as Dr. Simonelli and his students in an event such as this.”

Pictured at top: Former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern. (bertieahernoffice.com)

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.