The history of Dundalk, County Louth, will be aired in the classrooms of two American schools on Monday next as part of an innovative new online project developed by County Museum Dundalk.
Students of Dundalk High School and Dundalk Middle School in Maryland are participating in the first of six live internet webcasts on various aspects of life and work in Louth’s capital town during the 20th century.
The series of hour-long webcasts will focus primarily on the lives of people working in the local brewing, tobacco manufacturing and shoe manufacturing industries, as well the role and nature of education and entertainment in the Dundalk area.
The decision to involve students from the US forms part of the project’s key objective of assisting schools with respect to local history studies. Dundalk in Maryland was established in 1856 by Henry McShane, a native of County Louth who established the McShane Bell Foundry on the banks of the Patapsco River on the outskirts of Baltimore.
“The programmes are designed to assist schools with respect to local history studies with the preparation of a specialised worksheet dealing with each theme over the course of the broadcasts. The worksheets, willl feature photographs of the activity being discussed along with a unique insight into the dramatic changes in local life over the course of a lifetime”, he added. These worksheets are available by clicking here.
Pam Cline, Librarian and Technology Liaison at Dundalk High School said students were very excited about the connection with their name sake town in Ireland.
“It will be interesting to see what we have in common with the Irish Dundalk. Maybe we will do a history of our Dundalk so that they can know what we are like. We are so looking forward to working with Brian on this project. Our students are anxious to create a video with their sister city”, added Ms. Cline.
Mr. Lee continued: “I believe that internet radio is the future and that this is a great way of making history interesting and relevant to a new generation. We are hoping to generate an atmosphere of a fireside conversation, making it an enjoyable experience for our guests and, of course, our listeners”.
All programmes will be broadcast from 1.30p.m. -2.30 p.m.
Further information on the live history project is available from Brian Walsh at 042 9392999, or on the museum website: www.dundalkmuseum.ie.