Waterford County Museum: Book Review

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Major New Waterford History Book Published

The Towns and Villages of the Waterford Greenway

A history of Dungarvan, Abbeyside, Stradbally, Kilmacthomas, Portlaw and Waterford.

BUY IT ONLINE

(It's much cheaper to buy it locally due to the high postage cost)

A major new history book 'The Towns and Villages of the Waterford Greenway' is being launched on the 14th of December. Subtitled: A history of Dungarvan, Abbeyside, Stradbally, Kilmacthomas, Portlaw and Waterford, explores a thousand years of Waterford history in the company of some of the county's best known local historians. Lavishly illustrated with historic and contemporary photographs, this book takes you off the beaten track to explore the towns and villages of the Waterford Greenway.

This 270 page book, chronicling the history of the localities surrounding the Greenway, is the result of work by four heritage groups, eleven historians, three photographers and two illustrators over a two-year period. All profits from this book are being donated to Portlaw Heritage Centre, Stradbally Church Ruins Committee, Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society and Waterford County Museum.

The aim of the book was to create an accessible, well-researched history of the towns, villages and heritage along the Greenway. The book also features a concise historically accurate history of the railway. The target market for the publication looks beyond history enthusiasts. Locals wanting to learn about their native place, schools looking for history projects, visitors searching for an attractive souvenir of their visit, tourist businesses looking for accurate information for their guests are all catered for.

Authors contributing to the book included Eddie Cantwell, Ger Crotty, Cian Flaherty, William Fraher, Christina Knight-O’Connor, Cian Manning, Seán and Síle Murphy, Julian Walton, Martin Whelan and Willie Whelan. Photographers for the publication were Eamonn Bolger, John Foley and Pat Kenealy. The original illustrations were provided by Michael Power and Anne Lannon Power.

The project was initiated and managed for Waterford County Museum by Willie Whelan. The museum would like to thank Waterford Council, The Heritage Council and Waterford Leader Partnership for their support of this project.

The book will be stocked from Friday the 14th of December in the following outlets: Eurospar Abbeyside, Reader’s Choice, Shalloe’s Newsagents, Dungarvan Tourist Office, Waterford County Museum and Easons (all in Dungarvan). The book will also be available in Cunningham's Supermarket, Stradbally; Kilmacthomas Post Office; Dunhill Education Centre; Fogarty’s Shop, Portlaw; Portlaw Heritage Centre; Hickson's Centra, Kilmeaden; The Book Centre, Waterford; Waterford Museum of Treasures; Lismore Heritage Centre. If anyone has issues in sourcing a copy contact Waterford County Museum on info@waterfordmuseum.ie or phone 058 45960.

January 2018 - Recent Publications

The Museum supplied photographs to two recently launched publications.

‘A History of the Dungarvan GAA Club from 1885-2017’ by Tony Ryan, and ‘Dunmore East – A Living History’ by Maria Walsh.

Both books come highly recommended and are available in local outlets.

New Book Which Includes a Number of Images from Waterford County Museum - Atlas of the Irish Revolution

Waterford County Museum contributed a number of images to the recently published Atlas of the Irish Revolution.

This important work was published by Cork University Press, and is profusely illustrated throughout its over nine hundred pages.

Leading historians on the period have written on various aspects of the revolutionary period, including Dungarvan man Prionnsias Breathnach.

The book is now available in bookshops.

Dungarvan Agricultural Show New Book ‘The Show Story 1913-2017’ for Sale in the Museum

We always have a selection of books with local connections for sale in the Museum with a wide range of topics from local history to guide books to poetry and photographs.

We now have the new book about the Dungarvan Agricultural Show ‘The Show Story 1913-2017’ for sale at €10 celebrating the one hundredth show. This is a beautiful book packed with lovely photos and details of the history of the show and at a very reasonable price.

Our congratulations to the Dungarvan Show Committee on their one hundredth show. A percentage of all of our book sales goes towards the running costs of the Museum. Please do consider calling into us in Friary Street to view our selection of books.

New Books for Sale in the Museum

We always have a selection of books with local connections for sale in the Museum with a wide range of topics from local history to guide books to poetry and photographs. We have two new books by Donald Brady for sale at the very reasonable price of €10 each. Donald was County Librarian for County Waterford from 1982 until 2010. He spoke about one of the books 'Katherine Cecil Thurston Irish New Woman Author' at the Immrama Festival in Lismore recently. The second book is 'Essays from Lismore II' which features some of Donald's previous contributions to Immrama.

A percentage of all of our book sales goes towards the running costs of the Museum. Please do consider calling into us in Friary Street to view our selection of books.

Lecture - 'Sir John Keane and Cappoquin House in time of war and revolution' by Mr. Glascott Symes

This lecture is part of the Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society's Winter/Spring Lecture Programme 2017, and will cover Sir John Keane's management of the Cappoquin estate through his service in both the Boer War and World War I, returning home for the War of Independence.

He went on to serve in the first Senate of the Free State only to have his home destroyed in the Civil War.

However, he personally oversaw the rebuilding of the house.

Please see our previous review of the book in the same name by Mr. Symes.

Venue: St. Patrick's Gateway Centre, Patrick Street, Waterford

Date: Friday 27th January 2017

Time: 8pm

New Book - 'Faces in the Window' by Susan M. Green

This is a beautiful new book full of stunning photographs of details of the stained glass windows in Mount Melleray Abbey.

These close up photographs show the stained glass windows made by Harry Clarke Studios circa 1940's, along with quotations from Scripture and St. Patrick's Breastplate to aid meditation on the images, all printed on thick glossy pages.

Available from Mount Melleray Abbey Book Shop.

Sir John Keane and Cappoquin House in time of war and revolution, by Glascott Symes

This is one of the booklets in the Maynooth Studies in Local History series.

This booklet is based on Mr. Symes' thesis for an MA in Historic House Studies at Maynooth University.

It is divided into chapters detailing Sir John Keane's life and war record, his involvement with the Co-op movement, membership of Waterford County Council, the farm worker's strike, the Senate and the Civil War and the burning of Cappoquin House. The final chapter details the restoration of Cappoquin House after its destruction by fire on 19th February 1923.

Sir John Keane (1873-1956) inherited Cappoquin Estate at the age of 19 just as he entered the army. While he was serving in the Boer War his mother ran the estate. After his marriage in 1907 to Eleanor Hicks Beach he settled in Cappoquin getting involved in public life. At the outbreak of the First World War he rejoined the army. When the Free State was established he accepted his nomination as a Senator and was a regular contributor to debates on many topics such as censorship, agriculture, and compulsory Irish.

Mr. Symes has managed to present a fascinating and detailed account of Senator Keane and his times within 60 pages, and also included a number of interesting photographs.

New Book - 'The Post Office in Ireland: An Illustrated History'

An excellent new book has been published by Irish Academic Press called 'The Post Office in Ireland: An Illustrated History' by Stephen Ferguson.

The book is beautifully bound and printed, with many fascinating photographs, including some from Waterford County Museum's archives, one of which shows the interior of Dungarvan Post Office with three of the staff in 1904, and another with a caption mentioning the Dungarvan postmaster, printer, and cyclist Edward Brenan showing two of the post office staff.

Available from all good retailers.

Free Downloadable Waterford History Books

The following books about Waterford History are available to download free of charge. They are all of interest, particularly Charles Smith's book. It should be kept in mind that the books are products of their time. Some of the historical conclusions or facts may have been overtaken by current research. This is particularly true where the authors deal with pre-history. P M Egan's book is quite well known for containing inaccuracies but it is still a part of the canon of Waterford historical literature.

Charles Smith
The ancient and present state of the county and city of Waterford (1774) 2nd edition

R H Ryland
The history, topography and antiquities of the county and city of Waterford; with an account of the present state of the peasantry of that part of the south of Ireland (1824)

Joseph Hansard
The History, Topography and Antiquities (natural and Ecclesiastical) with Biographical Sketches. (1870)

Edmund Downey
The story of Waterford: from the foundation of the city to the middle of the eighteenth century (1914)

P. M. Egan
History, Guide & Directory of County and City of Waterford (1895)

Thanks to Ivan Fitzgerald for sending on these links.

New Book on Waterford's Geological Heritage

Corries Caves and Coast
Corries Caves and Coast - The Geological Heritage of Co Waterford, was launched recently at the Copper Coast Centre by the Chief of the Heritage Council, Michael Starrett. The book received support from the Heritage Council and the Geological Survey of Ireland.

The book is written by Matthew Parkes, Robert Meehan and Sophie Préteseille, and includes details of caves, slate quarries, mines and coastal features of Co Waterford

The book is beautifully designed and is full of wonderful colour photographs. It is available From the Civic Offices, Dungarvan and the Copper Coast Centre www.coppercoastgeopark.com at the cost of €10.

New Book on Lismore

"But for Ireland, I'd Not Tell Her Name"

This book is written and illustrated by Gerard Taylor. The title is based on the traditional Irish air Ar Éireann Ni Neosfainn Cé Hi. The author's great uncle Joe Collins lived in Botany in Lismore and worked as a baker. During the War of Independence he joined with the local republicans. He climbed up a ladder with two cans of petrol and set fire to the courthouse in Lismore, suffered burns but escaped capture.

The book tells the story of the family in Lismore and is part fact and part fiction and is illustrated with colour illustrations by the author.

For further information on ordering a copy contact the author at gezmurals@yahoo.co.uk

Ideal Christmas Gift

Looking for the ideal Christmas gift for family and friends at home or abroad.

Call to Waterford County Museum and pick up a copy of "Dungarvan Historic Guide & Town Trail"

Contents of book include:

Historical Sites around Dungarvan

Street Names of Dungarvan and Abbeyside

Historical Photo Selection

Dungarvan Heritage Walking Trail

Book is priced at €10- and is available at
The Museum, Friary St
also Easons and Readers Choice, Dungarvan.

Buy Our Book - Dungarvan: A Historic Guide & Town Trail

Latest Decies Journal Published

Decies Journal No 67

The latest issue of Decies has just been published. There is the usual fascinating collection of articles. Of particular interest is the article by Margo Griffin titled From Waterford to Worcester: Records from a Massachusetts Archive. This tells the story of Richard O'Flynn (1829-1907) of Newtown, Kilmacthomas who settled in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1851. He opened an antiquarian bookshop which was commercially successful. He was a founder of the Worcester Society of Antiquity and had a particular interest in recording the history of the Irish in Worcester. All of his research was recorded in twenty folio volumes.

This article refers to the Co Waterford people recorded by O'Flynn. These include fascinating pen pictures of the individuals, such as Jeremiah Kane of Dungarvan who became one of Worcester's famous detectives. There are people from Stradbally, Dungarvan, Ring, Mothel, Kilmacthomas, Fenor etc. Copies of the journal are on sale at the museum at €20.

New Book On Cappoquin Fenian, Poet & Journalist, Michael Cavanagh

Best of luck to the Michael Cavanagh Society (which includes several of our friends from the Cappoquin Heritage Group) who are launching their book on Michael Cavanagh; His Life and Selected Writings at the Cappoquin Community Centre on Saturday, November 27th at 8.30.

The book comprises almost 400 pages of 19th century poetry, legends and history, mainly dealing with Waterford, from one of Cappoquin's diasporal sons. Cavanagh fled to the USA after his involvement in a Young Ireland attack on Cappoquin barracks in 1849 and spent over half a century in the States, working as a journalist in Irish-American publications and as a prominent Fenian. He was also the biographer of Thomas Francis Meagher.

The book will be on sale for a special launch price of €15 on that night only, and will be available in local shops and through the Civic Link website, www.cappoquin.net after November 27th, and through other outlets. All proceeds are going to Bunscoil Gleann Sidheain and the group hopes everyone who can will support the launch of this high quality hard-back production of the writings of Cappoquin's literary son, and support the local school into the bargain.

Why The Horrible Histories DVD Is So Important

One Of The Stars Of Horrible Histories

One of the greatest challenges faced by any local history organisation is regenerating itself with 'new members'.

At Waterford County Museum we have chosen to expend quite a bit of our members time and scarce museum resources on children's events. At some point it is hoped that these kids will be the museum members and community activists of the future. If we can give a few of them an interest or enthusiasm for Waterford history they will become the standard bearers for their community's heritage.

My opinion is that a passion for history is something that one normally picks up early in life. Even if you drift from your early enthusiasm as 'life gets in the way' you can always rekindle the love affair in later life. My own interest in history came about when a friend of my father gave me an encyclopedia about World War 2 and was further enhanced by reading large quantities of Commando, Warlord and Battle comics as a child.

Anything that can get kids interested in history has got to be a good thing. My 5 year old daughter has recently developed a passion for the Horrible Histories™ TV series. All 13 episodes of the first series are now available on DVD at a low price from Amazon.co.uk and from Amazon.com

The series is described as 'History with the nasty bits left in! Based on the best-selling series of books for kids (and for adults, but they just won’t admit it), Horrible Histories is an anarchic, surprising and unconventional take on history’s most gruesome and funny moments.'

This DVD is produced by the BBC and is not to be confused with the cartoon series also based on the Horrible Histories™. These DVDs are not on a par with the BBC production.

Some of the humour is ribald and fake gore abounds but as a primer to spark an interest in history I don't think you could do better. The only caveat I would place on the purchase is that it is very Anglocentric, for an Irish audience this won't be so much of a problem but for other countries some of the history may be unfamiliar.

Link: Horrible Histories YouTube Channel

New Book On Clonea Power Church

History Of Clonea Power Parish Church

A History of the Church of Saints Coan and Brógan Clonea Power was launched recently by Julian Walton historian and broadcaster. This lavishly produced book was written by Mossy Hunt local historian and was launched in conjunction with the re-dedication of the church on July 10th the feast day of the Saints.

The church was designed by J. J. McCarthy in 1860 and completed in 1863. The Gothic style church was built of limestone with Bath stone windows and door surrounds. An attractive feature of the church is the stained glass windows. These are by Joshua and Harry Clarke Studios and Watsons of Youghal. Many pictures in the book are dedicated to these windows. The Harry Clarke windows stand out because of their vibrant colour and sophisticated design.

The book divided into 12 chapters covers many items of interest regarding the church and its parish. The cross of Mothel which was made in the 15th century is one item, as is the life of Fr. Dowley one of the founders of the church. A family tree for the priest is in included as are some pages from his parish ledger.

A list of some of those buried in the graveyard is given at the back of the book, which may be helpful for anyone wishing to trace their family roots.

Overall this is a very colourful and well produced publication with many interesting features on the church. It is available to buy at €20 here in the museum, from the Author Mossy Hunt at 051-646187 and Marie Cox at 051-396626.

The Country Cooking Of Ireland By Colman Andrews

Eddie Dee & John Moore At Coolnagour Dairy

This lavishly produced Cookery book, published by Chronicle Books San Francisco, has two photographs from the Waterford County Museum image archive. The Coolnagour Dairy in O'Connell including Eddie Dee and John Moore. The other photo is of Liam Morrissey's butcher shop, O'Connell Street - featuring the Morrissey family and lots of meat carcasses hanging on the outside of the shop! The book is available to buy from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

Our image archive has become popular with publishers, researchers, film makers at home and abroad as a source for historic images.

Book Review: Arses & Elbows By James G. Cullinane

If I had to pick my favorite local history book of the first decade of the 21st century I would be hard pressed to choose between Rebel Heart By Terence O'Reilly (click the link for the review) and Arses & Elbows by James G. Cullinane.

I liked O'Reillys book because of the extensive research and easy to read style he brought to an unjustly neglected part of Waterford history, the struggle for independence and the aftermath.

Cullinane's book is an entirely different beast, it is more a memoir than a history book. Part of the attraction of the book for me is that the topic is Abbeyside and in particular the people of Abbeyside. However I don't think you need to be a native of the village to enjoy or learn from the story it tells. What the book has is a great big dollop of honesty and truth running through it. It manages to steer a path halfway between rose-tinted nostalgia and Angela's Ashes misery. The truth might be the authors truth, people may disagree with his opinions and his presentation of the facts but that is the nature of any memoir. Cullinane recognises the flaws and hypocrisies of the world in which he grew up but also celebrates the characters, organisations and community spirit that allowed families to survive in these difficult times.

The book is subtitled 'A time of little change: A boy's life in a small seaside village in 50's Ireland'. Arses & Elbows doesn't concern itself with great historic events and to be honest it doesn't even have a very strong narrative trend through the book. Chapters about Christmas, Dungarvan, the local scout troop, school, the cinema, fair day, sports and local characters can be read independent of each other.

Most of us with an interest in local history have read books that range in presentation from being barely readable to having a high academic style, scattering footnotes like landmines, throughout the text. Fortunately for the reader of Arses & Elbows, Cullinane (as a frequently published author with an MA in Creative Writing) recognises that he has duty to entertain as well as inform his audience. The book is extraordinarily enjoyable to read, a real page turner, packed with colloquialism's and characters.

Cullinane has performed an extraordinary service to his native place in producing this book, it is one of the finest pieces of local social history I have had the privilege to read. Perhaps it is a book that could only have been produced by an emigrant (Cullinane now lives in Mount Kisco, New York). The ribald passages in it may not suit all tastes, I suspect these passages would have been difficult to write if the author was still living cheek by jowl with his subject matter. Be that as it may, for the non-prudish local history enthusiast (a niche target market if ever there was one) this is a must purchase. The book is available from Amazon.com or from Waterford County Museum, email history@waterfordmuseum.ie for availability and pricing.

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