Louth County Council launches Decades of Centenaries postcard collection

Louth County Council has launched a new illustrated postcard collection, depicting key events in Louth between 1912 and 1921.

The eight-postcard collection, an initiative of Louth County Council's arts office, and funded under the Decade of Centenaries programme in 2024, is available through local library services, while stocks last.

Led by Louth County Council Arts Officer Moya Hodgers, the collection was developed last year with the assistance of local historian Donal Hall, who provided ideas for the illustrations as well as background to each of the events.

Images were created by award-winning illustrator Alan Dunne. Alan's work in young adult publications and graphic novels has been critically acclaimed, and he has also worked on key projects such as ‘The Great Irish History Book’ by Myles Dugan. His illustrations bring to life key events such as the Shelling of Millmount Tower in June 1922 and the public launching of Cumann na Ban in Dundalk in February 1916.

The Decade of Centenaries programme has been running since 2016, and each year local authorities across the country have been provided with government funding to commission projects of historical, cultural and creative value. From Historian in Residence programmes in local libraries to theatre productions and visual art projects, all commissions engage with the public and celebrate Irish history.

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Last year, the arts office launched the children’s novel Sorcha, Queen of the Castle, with free copies being made available to every primary school in the county, as well as available to lend from your local library.

This collection of eight postcards can now be viewed in the newly opened Dunleer library in its new place of residence.  Sets of the postcard collection are also now available in each of the five libraries across the county and are free of charge to members of the public while stocks last, so call into your local branch to get your copy.

Any further enquiries on the postcards or requests for further print copies can be made by emailing arts@louthcoco.ie