Anne Jane Carlile Plaque unveiling

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In his opening address to a very packed Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bailieborough, the chairman of the Ulster History Circle, Chris Spurr said that Anne Jane Carlile was an Ulsterwoman whose inspiration and faith gave a name and purpose to one of Victorian Britain’s leading temperance movements. A co-founder of the Band of Hope, her early years in counties Monaghan and Cavan lent substance to her charitable work in later life.

The Circle were delighted to commemorate Anne Jane Carlile’s achievements with the blue plaque which was the first ever in County Cavan, and thanked Circle committee member, Leslie McKeague for organising the event in his home territory of Bailieborough.  Leslie also delivered a very interesting illustrated talk on Anne Jane to an enthralled audience.

A very warm welcome was extended to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphries TD. The Minister had graciously agreed to unveil the blue plaque and before doing so she said that she was delighted that Anne Jane Carlile whose pioneering work in temperance was being remembered in the town where she had lived for 11 years before her husband, Rev. Francis Carlile had died. The Minister hoped that there would be further blue plaques in the Ulster counties of Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.

The unveiling outside on the Church was well recorded by local press and television, after which guests were entertained to supper before leaving to travel back to many parts of the country.

Photographs from the plaque unveiling ceremony – Left to right

  1. Anne Jane Carlile
  2. L.R. Chris Spurr, Chairman-Ulster History Circle, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and Leslie McKeague, Ulster History Circle.
  3. Rev. David and Mrs. Nesbitt, Ballybay.
  4. Heather Humphreys TD unveils the Blue Plaque watched by Chairperson, Cavan County Council, Councillor Shane P. O’Reilly.
  5. Val O’Kelly, Sharon Tracey-Dunne, Ida Fisher and Derek Reaney Ulster-Scots Agency with Heather Humphrey TD.
  6. Trinity Presbyterian Church with the Blue Plaque.