“At Newtown, we were welcomed with open arms by the poor Irish weavers, who came out in their best drapery, and uttered blessings and words of endearment. Some of them danced and others stood with clasped hands and tearful eyes, adoring almost, that banner whose colour was their national one, and the emblem of their green island home.” (Samuel Bamford, cited in Mervyn A Busteed and R.I.Hodgson, ‘Angel Meadow: A Study of the Geography of Irish Settlement in Mid-Nineteenth Century Manchester’, Manchester Geographer Vol. 14, 1993, pp.3-26)

On 16th August 1819, 60,000 people gathered on what was then known as St Peter’s Field in Manchester to peacefully demand the reform of parliamentary representation. When troops, including local government forces, charged the crowds, the tragic result saw 18 people lose their lives and around 700 injured. This was to become known as the Peterloo Massacre. In 2019, Manchester Histories will mark the bicentenary of the Peterloo Massacre with a programme of public events, learning and creative exploration in partnership with key cultural organisations and communities across Greater Manchester. Recognising the significance of this event and of the role of Irish people or those of Irish descent as witnesses or participants at Peterloo, we are delighted to welcome Martin Gittins, of the Peterloo Memorial Campaign and Cheetham & Crumpsall Heritage Society, and Michala Hulme, a professional genealogist and social historian at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Martin will deliver a short talk exploring the Irish at Peterloo. Martin will also present an exhibition in the Centre in the week before his talk which will include opportunities for the public to learn more about the Peterloo descendants programme.

Michala is based at the Manchester Centre for Public History & Heritage. Michala has featured in several national and regional TV programmes, such as Channel 4’s Great Canal Journeys, BBC’s Heir Hunters, Who Do You Think You Are?, Channel 4’s Genealogy Roadshow. She has also written for Who Do You Think You Are Magazine and the Manchester Evening News. Michala is currently researching the descendants of Peterloo for the Manchester Histories. In her talk, Michala will be discussing her research into the 'Peterloo Eleven', which includes Mary Collins who was born in Ireland. The 'Peterloo Eleven' were a group of Peterloo Veterans from Failsworth who met up again in 1884 at the Great Reform Demonstration. Hear about their lives and the journey to find their descendants.

There will also be a bookstall.

Do join us! It's sure to be interesting.

Manchester Histories in partnership with key cultural organisations will deliver Peterloo 2019, a Heritage Lottery Fund supported project that will bring together people, organisations and partners to explore through events, learning and artistic exploration how the Peterloo Massacre of 1819 came to define Manchester as a radical city like no other and to mark the turning point of democracy in Britain. An interactive website will lead the story-telling experience and, from June to August 2019, a vast public events programme will unfold led by the themes of protest, democracy and freedom of speech