Museum to mark centenary of Spanish Flu outbreak in Mayo
A SPECIAL talk exploring the devastating impact of the Spanish Flu outbreak in Mayo 100 years ago is taking place on Tuesday, September 11, at 7 p.m. at the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar.
From 1918 to 1919, the Spanish Flu claimed 23,000 lives and infected some 800,000 people in Ireland over a 12-month period. No group, location or aspect of life was spared. However, the epidemic remains an almost forgotten event in 20th century Irish history.
Now, to mark the centenary of this major event, the National Museum of Ireland has developed a special programme of remembrance and research, entitled The Enemy Within – The Spanish Flu in Ireland 1918-19.
The programme includes a temporary exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, an online public participation programme, and a nationwide lecture series charting the local impact of the Spanish Flu across 15 counties.
On Tuesday, September 11, Noel Campbell, curator with the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, will examine the impact of the Spanish Flu in Mayo through stories of personal loss and the public service breakdown forced by the disease.
“The Spanish Flu remains an understudied event in history despite claiming more lives worldwide than the Great War,” stated Mr. Campbell. “The National Museum of Ireland has developed a programme which will be informative, engaging and also challenging as we attempt to understand the Spanish Flu’s true significance and probe why this pandemic has been almost forgotten in our study and understanding of 20th century Irish history.”
For bookings or talk details, visit https://www.museum.ie/Country-Life/Events-Projects/The-Enemy-Within-the-Spanish-Flu-in-Mayo-1918-19.
For further information on the National Museum of Ireland’s Spanish Flu programme, visit https://www.museum.ie/Country-Life/Exhibitions/Current-Exhibitions/The-Enemy-Within.