Laois Heritage Society will host a talk called ‘Big Houses’ – Divided Land and 1923 Land Act, by Terry Dunne Historian.
The talk will take place on Thursday, September 14, at 8pm in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise.
Entry fee is €5, or free for members.
Membership is available on the evening
This lecture will reflect upon Terry’s latest research – The Hogan Land Act, signed into law in August 1923.
The Act was the final phase in the downfall of the landed estates and in large part the beginning of a process of land re-distribution that saw as much as 20% of farmland in the 26 counties re-distributed to small-holders.
It was the major legislative effort of the early years of the Irish Free State and played a crucial role in consolidating the new state.
The Act had local links in that Mountrath resident, Harry Franks represented the landlord side in the conference that led up to the legislation.
Stradbally born Kevin O’Higgins was heavily involved with it, second only to his close colleague Patrick Hogan, Minister for Agriculture.
This talk will look at the different strands of social conflict during the revolution, which the Free State administration sought to address with the 1923 Act.
It will offer different examples of how the local landscape was transformed under the Act’s impact.
Terry Dunne’s current research is funded by the Royal Irish Academy. He was former Laois Historian in residence in 2021 – 2022.
Terry’s research to date has focused on agrarian social conflict in pre-Famine south-east Laois and north Kilkenny.
All are welcome – email Laoisheritagesociety@gmail.com for further details.
