Taking Greystones’ History Gang Into The Future

Dr Cormac Moore FRI23JAN26

hen it came to steering The Greystones Archaeological & Historical Society, the late, great Jim Smith was always going to be a hard act to follow.

But the man himself no doubt recognised in Dr Cormac Moore a man very much up to the job, inviting him on board five years ago.

Having fallen in love with history thanks to the endless books recommended to him by his farmer dad, Moore began his shift from commerce and recruitment when he returned to UCD for a Masters in History back in 2009.

Three years later, his Masters thesis inspired his first book, The GAA vs Douglas Hyde, the prolific son having gone on to publish six books so far, with at least two more due for release later this year.

As well as being a columnist with the Belfast-based The Irish News and co-presenting The Irish History Boys podcast with comedian Tim McGarry, Moore started his own company, History Link, last year, helping companies utilise the past when planning their future.

Having moved to sunny Greystones in 2020, becoming part of the GAHS gang was pretty much inevitable, and after being elected chairman in March 2025, Moore has moved the society up a gear or two, covering everything from Lemon’s Pure Sweets and Avoca Hand Weavers’ beginnings to the Sinn Féin rabbi Yitzhak Herzog and taking the gang on a walking tour of the Liberties.

All the while proving that there are always lessons to be learnt from history. No matter how young or old you are.

Just what those cunning plans are, hey, we decided to find out on a rainy Friday morning in Greystones…

You can find out more about the Greystones Archaeological & Historical Society here, and here, follow on ye olde Facebook here, and get in touch by email on [email protected]. And that was the bould Barry from Friends Of The Cliff Walk saying hello.