The life and times of James Dillon will be explored at the April lecture of The Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society, when leading academic and scholar Dr. Maurice Manning will address the society. Dr. Manning will address the Society on the life and times of James Dillon, on Tuesday, April 8th, in Strokestown, beginning at 8.30 pm. The late James Dillon had a long and illustrious association with Roscommon, residing in Ballaghaderreen for many years. Indeed, Dillon House, home of the Western Development Commission is named after the former parliamentarian and former leader of the Fine Gael party, who was renowned as one of the most gifted parliamentary orators of his generation. Dr. Manning will be making a welcome return to the county, as it was in 1999 in Dillon House that his acclaimed biography of James Dillon was launched in the presence of the late James Dillon’s son, John Blake Dillon and another former leader of the Fine Gael party, Liam Cosgrove. An academic by background, Maurice Manning previously lectured in politics in University College Dublin and has been visiting professor at the University of Paris (Vincennes) and the University of West Florida. Dr. Manning is a member of the Senate of the National University of Ireland, of the Governing Authority of University College Dublin and was a member of the Governing Authority of the European University Institute at Florence. Dr Manning has written several books on modern Irish politics, including the aforementioned biography of James Dillon and the definitive history of the Blueshirt movement in Ireland, as well as one politics based novel. Maurice Manning was also a member of the Oireachtas for twenty-one years, serving in both the Dáil and the Seanad and has also been an acclaimed broadcaster for RTÉ television, as well as a regular contributor to many radio and television programmes. Dr. Manning was also a member of the New Ireland Forum in the 1980s and the British Inter Parliamentary Body. He served as both Leader of the Seanad and Leader of the Opposition in that House. Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society are delighted to announce the visit of such a distinguished academic as Dr. Maurice Manning and wish to invite their many members, friends and many others with a keen appreciation of history to this much-anticipated lecture, on Tuesday, April 8th next. Further details in subsequent editions.
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