About Us
The Society's Logo
Our logo (above) is based on one of the panels on
Navan's Market Cross
(recently restored to the town and now on display in the Solstice Arts Centre).
It shows the arms of some the early Norman families of the town including the lozenges or diamonds of the Nangles who were the Barons of Navan for almost 500 years.
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Membership
To apply to join the Navan & District Historical Society please print out, fill in and forward your application to us as described here.
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N&DHS ' Events 2015
Heritage Week 2015 The N&DHS' Vincent Mulvany telling the story of the medieval settlement in Athlumney. (above left): In the graveyard at the little 800 year old church and (above right) at the tower house with its Tudor extension.
Athlumney Graveyard near the Cheever Gough Stone (left) and on the first floor of the Castle near the secret room (right).
(above) The N&DHS' Vincent Mulvany pulling in the crowds for the second time in Athlumney, despite the weather, during Heritage Week 2015
N&DHS ' Events 2014
June 2014 - Annual Outing: Pictured above are members of the N&DHS in the sunshine at the Islandbridge War Memorial Gardens, after a visit to Kilmainham Jail where the light found it hard to penetrate.
The N&DHS' first event for Heritage week 2014 was a walk around historic Navan (1913-23) led by Vincent Mulvany. The group stops at the house of Navan's murdered postman Thomas Hodget (top left) and again at his grave (top centre). They again stop at the location of the first meeting of the Irish Volunteer's in Feb. 1914 - the Old Forester's Hall in Bedford Place (top right).
The second Heritage Week event was Kevin Traynor's guided tour of Dunmoe Castle, medieval church and settlement. Dunmoe Castle is associated with the D'Arcy family.
The final Heritage Week Event was a guided tour of Navan's Monastic Settlement, the round Tower, medieval Church and graveyard at Donaghmore, led by Cepta Dungan. Cepta stands at the grave of the croppy who died after the battle of Tara in 1798.
In Feb. 2014
Brendan Matthews gave us a talk on
Collier the Robber
Pictured left are
Donie Halpin, Vincent Mulvany,
Brenda Mooney, Brendan Matthews,
Ethna Cantwell,
Rose Smyth and Mairéad Crinion.
Society's Events and News in 2013
N&DHS AGM
Nov. 2013
Committee 2013-14
Back: (l-r) Vincent Mulvany, Paschal Marry, Noel French, Pat Curtis, Bob Dier, Seán Conlon, Donie Curtis, Norman Dungan, Liam McCarthy
Front: (l-r) Marie Conlon, Bernadette Murray, Richard Farrelly, Mairéad Crinion, Cepta Dungan, Ethna Cantwell
Sept 13th 2013
Geraldine English gave a very well received illustrated talk on the
RIC in Meath
Pictured left is Geraldine English (2nd left) with members of the N&DHS - Peter Connell, Ethna Cantwell, Richard Farrelly and Mary Lynsky, whose Grandfather served with the RIC
A 99 year old watch came winging its way back to Navan in March. It turned up in a jumble sale in Farnham England, and was sent to the N&DHS by the woman who purchased it, Ms Jean Parratt. She was delighted to see it return to the town from which it originated.
In the absence of a Meath County Museum, the N&DHS decided that the best place for it would be the County Library. The photo below shows Vincent Mulvany the Archivist of the N&DHS presenting the Brock Watch to Ciarán Mangan, Meath Co. Librarian. Other N&DHS members present include Ethna Cantwell, Mairéad Crinion and N&DHS Chairman Richard Farrelly.
The watch is on display in the Local Studies Room of Navan Library.
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Society's events and news in 2012
Our website www.navanhistory.ie was launched in Navan Library on 16th February 2012.
Society's events and news in 2011
Heritage Week 2011 Bob Dier leads a tour of (above) Visit to Balrath Windmill (below) Feb. 2011
St.Mary's Church of Ireland (pictured above) 
Visit to Castletown House June 2011
Launch of N&DHS's 1st Journal Dec. 2011
Navan - Its People and Its Past
Launch of "Navan - its People and its Past" in Navan Library Dec. 2011
Back Row L-R Richard Farrelly, Ciarán Mangan (Co. Librarian), Vincent Mulvany, Tom French (Navan Library Local Studies) Norman Dungan, Peter Connell, Seán Condon, Mairéad Crinion.
Front Row L-R John O'Grady, Joe Reilly (Deputy Mayor of Navan), Ethna Cantwell, Bernadette Murray.
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Constitution
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The Society shall be called the Navan & District Historical Society.
- The aims of the Society shall be to locate, record, preserve, examine and illustrate the antiquities of the Navan and District area.
- The Society shall be non political and non sectarian.
- A person shall become a member of the Society on being proposed by a member of the Society, being accepted at a meeting of the Board, and having paid the annual subscription.
- The Board shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, PRO, Membership Secretary, and up to 15 elected members of the Society.
- The Board shall have the authority to transact all business of the Society.
- Five members shall form a quorum.
- The Board shall be elected at the annual AGM.
- The Society shall fundraise whenever necessary to achieve its aims.
The Society's first Board in 2007
Back: Bob Dier, Sean Condon, John Connolly, Liam McCarthy, Stephen Sherlock, Vincent Mulvany, John O'Grady.
Front: Bernadette Murray, Ethna Cantwell, Richard Farrelly, Peter Connell.
(Photos above: © Navan & District Historical Society)