Conference will mark 80 years since end of WWII

Waterford Treasures is host Special Conference Marking 80 Years Since the End of WWII Waterford Treasures will host a special conference this autumn to explore and commemorate the experiences of Waterford people during the Second World War. 

'Memories of the Emergency: Waterford People and the Second World War', will take place on Saturday, November 8, in the Dr Mary Strangman Large Room at City Hall, Waterford. The event will be free to attend and is supported by Creative Waterford.

Throughout 2025, Waterford Treasures undertook an oral history project to record and preserve personal accounts from the Second World War on the 80th anniversary of its conclusion. This conference will bring those stories to the forefront, shedding light on how global conflict touched the lives of people in Waterford and explore some lesser-known aspects of the period in Ireland known as 'The Emergency.'.

The day will open at 10am with a keynote lecture by Dr Michael Kennedy, Executive Editor of Documents on Irish Foreign Policy at the Royal Irish Academy. 

His talk, 'On the edge of this mighty struggle: Ireland's foreign and Defence Policies during the Second World War', will set the stage for a day of fascinating historical insight.

At 11am, Dr Eugene Broderick will give an overview of the period with ‘Everything Here is Perfectly Abnormal: the Emergency in Ireland, 1939-45'.

Following a coffee break, at 12 noon James Doherty will discuss: 'Defence through Delay: Military Defence in Waterford during the Emergency Period'. 

That will be followed at 12.45pm by a presentation on the Schools Essay Project with contributions from Mary Breen of the Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society and Niamh Crowley of the History Teachers’ Association of Ireland.

Afternoon sessions will focus on local stories and memories and at 2pm, Andrew Doherty will examine maritime incidents in Waterford Harbour during the Second World War.

At 2.45pm, Peter Cunningham will speak about ‘A Waterford Man on D-Day: 6 June 1944’. That will be followed by Cian Manning, 3.15pm, focusing on 'Sporting Life during Wartime, 1939–1945'. 

The day will conclude at 3.45pm with family memories of wartime shared by Nora Tubritt, Bill Walsh and Conor McEneaney.

A spokesperson for Waterford Treaures said: "This one-day conference offers an opportunity to reflect on how Waterford and its people experienced a period of profound uncertainty and resilience. It also celebrates the value of preserving personal stories for future generations."

Admission will be free of charge, however, places are limited and early booking is advised. For further information and registration details, contact Waterford Treasures at www.waterfordtreasures.com