The Drummin Bog Oral History Library is a heritage treasure for Drummond and the surrounding area of South County Carlow, Ireland.
Oral history is the recording of people’s memories, experiences, and opinions. It is a living history of everyone’s unique lifestyle, life experiences, and an opportunity for those people who have been hidden from history to have their voices heard.
Definition of Oral History, shared by Oral Historian Adrian Roche
Welcome to the Drummin Bog Oral History Library
The Drummin Bog Oral History Library contains and preserves the recollections and memories of individuals who grew up or lived near Drummin Bog, which is the only example of a raised bog in south County Carlow and the South East of Ireland. Drummin Bog is near Drummond and Carlow’s beautiful Barrow River.
During Heritage Week, on 12 August 2023, The Drummin Bog Project committee were delighted to host our first event to celebrate the new Drummin Bog Oral History Library.
Adrian Roche, who made the oral history recordings for the library, gave an introduction (in this recording) about the increasing international interest and importance of oral histories for present and future generations.
Adrian is well known for collecting oral histories across Ireland over the last decade. At the Heritage Week event at Drummond Hall, he spoke about his work and the Oral History Network of Ireland which has grown significantly since 2010.
Adrian shared a recognised definition of oral history and gave an overview of the rise in interest in oral histories in the UK and the US since the 1940s and the differences that have evolved in the field.
People who had recollections of Drummin Bog were interviewed by Adrian over 2023. Adrian also interviewed one of the scientists, hydrogeologist James Lalor, who has carried out ongoing surveys at Drummin to help us understand and preserve this important landscape and habitat.
Please note the sound quality of this introduction from the Heritage Day event reflects an impromptu recording.
The Drummin Bog Oral History Library
Short clips recorded by Adrian Roche:
The full recordings are available from the Drummin Bog Project, please contact us here
How are Oral Histories collected?
At the Drummin Bog Oral History event at Drummond Hall, 12 August 2023, Adrian Roche shared his considerable experience and fascinating insights in respecting and preserving stories, memories and recollections: (17 minutes) for communities and our cultural heritage.
More about Adrian Roche – Oral Historian – TheHistoryTrail.ie
Adrian Roche has been involved with cultural heritage and oral history projects for over a decade and has been following his own history trails for many years, both at home and abroad.
He has had the great opportunity to work on a variety of museum projects conducting research, writing interpretive content and project reports, and sourcing images, video and artefacts for exhibitions including Killarney House and Gardens, The Casino Model Railway Museum, and Michael Collins House.
He is a freelance oral historian and has worked on a wide range of oral history projects around Ireland. Work-related oral histories are of particular interest to me.
He is a founding member and director of the Oral History Network of Ireland.
Acknowledgements
Our grateful and sincere thanks to all the participants who shared their stories and recollections of Drummin Bog and the Drummond area, near the Barrow River, south County Carlow, Ireland.
Our deepest thanks to Adrian Roche of TheHistoryTrail.ie for his sensitive and careful approach to developing a superb Oral History Library for County Carlow to celebrate Drummin Bog and the Drummond area.
Drummond Hall on 12 Aug 2023
Friends and Members of the Drummin Bog Project, Members of the Carlow Environmental Network,
Brigid O’Regan, Oral Historian Adrian Roche (3rd from right), Alexis Bernstoff, Jules Michaels and
Eoin O’Sullivan, Carlow Local Authority Heritage Officer. Photo: Cathy Fitzgerald.
This project has been generously funded in 2023 by
The Heritage Council.
The Drummin Bog Project also gratefully acknowledges the Drummond Hall committee for their help in the launch of the Drummon Bog Oral History Library.
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