John Toland 1670-1722 | Man of Ardagh Series part i

John Toland (1670-1722) on A Night to Remember

The Irish rationalist philosopher and freethinker, John Toland died on this day in 1722. Precisely one year ago today, the tercentenary of his death was observed in his birthplace, the townland Ardagh on the Inishowen peninsula in Co. Donegal. To mark and observe this occasion, a special event – John Toland: Man of Ardagh – was organised. There was a great turn out at The Strand Hotel in Ballyliffin to mark not just his passing but also and more importantly, his life and the work that he undertook, which jointly constitute his legacy.

Speakers on the night included Dr Brian Lambkin, former principal of Lagan College, Belfast and founding director of the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies, who gave the keynote address. In his broad overview, he dwelt on some of the issues surrounding Toland and how his reputation has survived down through the years, despite controversies, some of which may still linger today. He also mentioned some of the places associated with Toland and his many travels through what could be considered 'Toland Country', concluding at his final resting place in the churchyard of St. Mary's Church in Putney, England

He was followed by Dr Kay Muhr, who gave a presentation on the history the Toland surname and its presence in the region of Inishowen, where it remains very much in evidence today, demonstrated in no small part by the turnout on the night. Among those was Patsy Toland, who entertained the gathering with a musical interlude, featuring songs and compositions from contemporaries of Toland, including Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), the harpist and singer whose blindness did not affect (maybe aided) his great gift for melodic composition.

Prior to that, Dr Takaharu Oda of Trinity College Dublin spoke about how Toland's work continues to be of interest to academics and scholars the world over, irrespective of barriers presented by language, culture or distance. This would be in no small part due to his valiant efforts to advance reason and critical thought over the blind acceptance of authority in religion, politics or any other public sphere, many times at great personal risk to himself.

Oscar Duggan of The Manuscript Publisher gave a presentation on Toland's literary and publishing activities, including the work that is being done today to to make Toland's works more accessible and known to a wider audience, employing modern media and techniques in the process, under the umbrella of the John Toland Centenaries web project. This is a project that was initiated in 2018, with a view to the upcoming centenaries surrounding his life and death and which will continue thereafter, to serve as a repository of knowledge about Toland, his life and times as well as those of his contemporaries and those who have followed in his path.

There followed a lengthy discussion about Toland, his enduring significance and appeal as a writer and as a public figure, which went on well into the night.

John Toland, Man of Ardagh, Tercentenary Celebrations

A Night to Remember: John Toland, Man of Ardagh

– marking the tercentenary of Toland's passing with an evening of entertainment and appraisal –

A night to mark the tercentenary of the passing of philosopher and Inishowen man, John Toland is being held in the Strand Hotel, Ballyliffin in Co. Donegal this Friday, 11 March starting 7pm.

"The tercentenary of Toland's death in March 1722 is obviously a significant anniversary by its very nature. Even now, 300 years after his passing, Toland's work and writings continue to be explored by scholars and academics across the world and for us not to mark his contribution to the study of modern-day philosophy would do an injustice to the man himself." – John Toland, Man of Ardagh event co-producer and local film festival director, Michael McLaughlin

Brian Lambkin, writer and historian, is the keynote speaker at the event on Friday. Brian is a former Principal of Lagan College, Belfast and founding Director of the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies. He was a member of the Board of the Integrated Education Fund, Chairman of the Association of European Migration Institutions and is currently a member of the Board of Healing through Remembering. His writings include Opposite Religions Still? Interpreting Northern Ireland After the Conflict (Avebury, 1996) and Calming Conflict: Northern Ireland, Metaphor and Migration (UHF & MCMS, 2019).

The second speaker is Oscar Duggan, founder of The Manuscript Publisher, a publishing house which has produced several of Toland's works, with another on the way. Duggan was involved in the publication of a short biography and critical appraisal of Toland that goes under the title of John Toland: Ireland's Forgotten Philosopher, Scholar … and Heretic by J.N. Duggan (2010).

Other components of the evening include a short address by Trinity College scholar, Takaharu Oda from Japan, who has visited Clonmany in the past and earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy writing about Toland and his peers.

Music on the evening will have a flavour of the era in which Toland walked these Donegal highways and byways.

Come along to the Strand Hotel, Ballyliffin at 7pm on 11 March and learn about Toland's life and legacy. All are welcome.