Lisburn historian set to deliver memorial lecture

WELL KNOWN Lisburn historian Alister McReynolds has been invited to deliver this year‘s Whitelaw Reid Memorial Lecture organised by the Ulster-Scots Agency.

In the lecture next Thursday night (March 28) Alister will highlight biographies from his forthcoming book, ‘Kith and Kin’ which looks at the sometimes surprising role of the Scotch Irish in America, and in particular the key part they played in the development of the modern world.

Alister was principal of Lisburn College for 14 years and among other accolades was awarded Honorary Membership of City and Guilds of London Institute in recognition of his contribution to vocational education.

He is the author of, ‘Legacy- The Scots Irish in America’.

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During recent years Alister has lectured extensively in the United States, including at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington and has worked closely with the Maine Ulster Scots Project (MUSP), and with the University of Southern Maine.

Currently he is an Honorary Research Fellow at The Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies with the University of Ulster and he lectures part-time with The Open Learning Department in QUB.

In his new book, ‘Kith and Kin’ Alister presents an alternative image of the Scotch Irish in America, partially drawing on some of his own family’s history.

In the Whitelaw Reid lecture Alister will draw on this material and reveal an engaging image of an ingenious and energetic ethnic group whose achievements he believes should be better recognised, especially here in Ulster.

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The event will be held in the Board Room at Assembly Buildings, 2–10 Fisherwick Place, Belfast on Thursday, March 28, and will begin at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm).

Entry to this evening lecture is free and everyone is welcome. To reserve your place at the lecture or for further information email [email protected] with ‘Annual Whitelaw Reid Lecture’ in the subject line or alternatively telephone (028) 9023 1113.

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