Heritage Week 2026 Project: Mapping Our Parish's Commercial History

Tulsk History Society is preparing a landmark publication tracing nearly two centuries of businesses, shops, and pubs across our entire parish—from the villages of Tulsk and Castleplunkett to our rural borders. Combining archival research with local memories, this chronological history will officially launch on Sunday, August 23rd. Have old photos or family stories to share? Get in touch!

  • Date:23/08/2026 12:00 AM
  • Location

Description

For Heritage Week 2026, the Tulsk History Society is diving deep into the commercial heartbeat of our community. We are currently working on a brand-new publication that will trace the history of the shops, pubs, and local businesses across our parish, spanning almost two centuries.

The Scope of Our Research

As the largest parish by area in the Diocese of Elphin, our modern borders encompass a vast landscape: the old civil parishes of Ogulla, Baslick, Kilcooley, Killukin, and the Killina part of Elphin.

Without a single major built-up town, our commercial life has historically revolved around:

  • The vibrant villages of Tulsk and Castleplunkett.
  • The standalone, rural grocery shops, pubs, and post offices that proudly served the outer borders of the parish up until recent times.

Our goal is to build a detailed, chronological history of each property, tracing its ownership, evolution, and role in the community over the generations.

How We Are Gathering History

This project is currently active and in progress. To ensure total accuracy, our research team is digging into an extensive range of historical archives, including:

  • Official Records: Griffith’s Valuation, Valuation Office Cancelled Books, and historical Census Records.
  • Media Archives: Local newspapers, tracking old advertisements, community articles, and licensing court reports.
  • Living History: We are actively interviewing older residents and descendants of business owners to capture firsthand memories.

We Need Your Photos!

A newspaper appeal has already been launched, but we are still looking for old photographs of these local premises, their owners, and the patrons who frequented them. If you have any family albums or old prints tucked away, please get in touch with the society!

Save the Date: Book Launch 📖

Mark your calendars! The culmination of this research will be officially unveiled at our book launch on Sunday, August 23rd, 2026, as part of our Heritage Week celebrations.

Stay tuned to this page for venue details and further updates as we get closer to the launch.