First Irish Quaker celebrated
William Edmundson celebrated in Mountmellick
Eighty Friends were among close to five hundred people who travelled to Mountmellick, Ireland, last week for the William Edmundson Homecoming.
The week-long celebration was organised by Mountmellick Heritage Society to commemorate the life of the Englishman and Friend, who came to be known as the ‘Irish Hammer’.
William Edmundson brought Quakerism to Ireland, setting up the first Meeting, in Lurgan, County Armagh, in 1654. He settled in Rosenallis, near Mountmellick, five years later. He promoted Quakerism throughout Ireland and further afield, visiting Jamaica and the North American colonies with George Fox in 1671.
Events organised for the homecoming included visits to Lurgan and the Quaker town of Ballitore and guided walks in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. A number of lectures also took place, including ‘My Journey to find William Edmundson’, given by his eight-times great-grandson, James E Edmundson, Sr, of Virginia.
Visitors, including Quakers, descendants of Edmundson and interested others, travelled from across Ireland, and from the United States, the UK and Australia, to attend.
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