Final talk in Mayo Historical Society series explores Annals of the Four Masters

The Mayo Historical and Archaeological Society will conclude its 2026 lecture series with a talk titled “The Annals of the Four Masters and Mayo local history” on Wednesday, 25th March at 7.30pm in the ATU Campus, Castlebar.

Dr. Bernadette Cunningham, a native of Corofin, Co. Galway, and adjunct associate professor in the Department of History at Maynooth University, will lead the presentation. The lecture will examine one of the most important sources for medieval and early modern Irish history: the Annals of the Four Masters.

Long regarded as a cornerstone of Gaelic historiography, the Annals document the history of Ireland from the earliest times to the 17th century. Dr. Cunningham’s talk will explore the origins of the compilation in the 1630s, the sources used by its authors, the methods of editing and recording events, and its reliability as a historical source.

“Local historians with an interest in medieval history will be familiar with the Annals,” Dr. Cunningham noted. “But few stop to consider the context in which they were written or the choices made by the compilers. This talk will highlight how the Annals illuminate both broader Irish history and the specific history of Mayo.”

Her award-winning book, The Annals of the Four Masters: Irish History, Kingship and Society (Four Courts Press, 2010), received the NUI Historical Research Prize in 2011.

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The lecture promises to offer insight into the value of the Annals for understanding medieval society, Gaelic kingship, and local Mayo history, making it a must-attend for historians, students, and members of the public interested in Ireland’s past.

Attendance is open to all, and those interested in medieval Irish history are encouraged to book early.