New book detailing the history of Land Wars in West Offaly launched in Belmont
Padraig Heavin’s book focuses on the struggles of the people of West Offaly to become landowners and citizens of a free country in the early 20th century.
There was a fantastic turnout with huge numbers from both the locality and beyond to support the launch of a new history book in Belmont recently.
‘Land Wars to Civil War: Turmoil in the Midlands’ written by Padraig Heavin was launched in High Street Community Hall on Friday evening, May 15 at 8pm.
The book which is Padraig’s second publication focuses on the struggles of the people of West Offaly to become landowners and citizens of a free country in the early 20th century.
It was officially launched by Padraig Boland from the LOETB and the event was moderated by historian Declan Ryan at the packed-out hall in High Street.
Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council John Leahy and Heritage Officer with Offaly County Council Amanda Pedlow also spoke at the launch of the new publication.
Land Wars to Civil War is a 350-page illustrated hardback which mentions over 1,300 names as it maps out the people of West Offaly’s progress and struggles to become land owners in the opening decades of the 20th century.
Moderator Declan Ryan opened proceedings stating: “You are all very welcome to the launch of this wonderful and important book by Padraig Heavin, it’s great to see the hall full.”
He detailed: “There’s been countless hours of research and scholarship gone into this work by Padraig, the book is beautifully presented in hardback and it also features a gorgeous photo of L’Estrange bridge in Clonony on the cover.”
The first guest to speak was Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council John Leahy who began by acknowledging the presence of Monsignor Pat Browne, his fellow Birr Municipal District Councillors Hugh Egan and Sean Maher as well as the LOETB’s Padraig Boland.
He also paid tribute to a former Offaly politician in attendance at the launch as he expressed: “I want to take this opportunity to say thanks to a certain individual, that's the former Taoiseach here in this room, Brian Cowen, for all the work that he’s done for this county.”
He continued: “We are here for Padraig who has produced not just his first book but his second and I’ve no doubt that this one will be every bit as successful as his first.”
“Padraig’s dedication and commitment is an inspiration to us all, I wish you the very best of luck and we will hopefully be here for a third launch at some stage.”
The Leas-Cathaoirleach of Birr MD also acknowledged the influence of Offaly County Council’s Heritage Officer in helping to get books published across the Midlands.
Councillor Leahy said: “Amanda Pedlow has been an absolute cornerstone in terms of bringing books to life for artists like Padraig and many others who have captured the heritage and culture of both Offaly and farther afield.”
Offaly County Council Heritage Officer, Amanda Pedlow, was next to speak, taking the chance to laud the amount of time and effort that would have gone into Padraig’s latest book.
She said: “The level of work that goes into collating, researching and bringing all the information together coherently and then to communicate it is a huge skill. It takes a massive amount of time so I really want to commend Padraig for working away for so long to put this book together.”
Amanda concluded: "We're very lucky in Offaly County Council that we are able to collaborate with authors to support them on their journey. It’s lovely to have a full house at the end of it and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did when you are reading through it.”
Set Manager for Strategic Projects with the LOETB, Padraig Boland, who was tasked with officially launching the book said: “There’s 1,300 people referenced in this book and they are the forefathers, grandaunts, granduncles, grandparents and great grandparents of the people here.”
"I'm not going to pick out one or two stories highlighting just a few people from all of those but I will speak a bit about my granduncle Pat Boland.”
He elaborated: “His journey is something of a microcosm of the Irish experience, he started as a soldier physically resisting a police raid that saw his brothers Michael and James, my grandfather, arrested at his family home in 1918.”
Padraig continued to detail the remarkable life of his granduncle from spending many months on the run, his involvement in the demolition of the Ballycumber RIC Barracks, the tactical strikes on the railway lines between Clara and Ballycumber to his progression as a brigade police officer.
He delved into how the revolutionary became a defender of the state in the case of his granduncle as Ireland experienced a time of transition. Pat ultimately chose a democratic path as a founding member of Fianna Fail serving his community for nearly 30 years in the Dail.
This represented a shift from military resistance to constitutional engagement as the very men who had been the targets of state execution or imprisonment during The Civil War became the custodians of the state’s department creating a distinct legacy for that generation.
Referring to Padraig’s book, he commented: “It is said that history is often written by the victors in cities but tonight we celebrate a book that proves that history is actually written in the townlands, on the riverbeds, and in the family kitchens of places like West Offaly.”
He continued: “Padraig Heavin has spent years not just reading archives but listening to the echoes of our past, in this book, he has taken the fragmented stories of our ancestors, their defiance in the fields, and their heartbreaks in the trenches of a divided nation and woven them into a tapestry that finally belongs to us.”
“I view Padraig Heavin as a custodian of our sense of place. In West Offaly we take immense pride in who we are, and he has given that right a scholarly foundation.”
Mr. Boland wrapped up by saying: “Padraig, you have reminded us that while the wars were fought for the land, the victory was won in the character of the people, who stayed to build a nation upon it.”
“This book is more than a historical record, it is an act of community service, by documenting the nuances of West Offaly’s revolutionary experience, Padraig ensures that the contribution of ordinary people leading ordinary lives, are properly contextualised within the national story.”
The launch concluded with author Padraig Heavin addressing all those in attendance. He remarked: “It’s fantastic to see so many friends, neighbours and people who have travelled long distances to be here in High Street hall tonight.”
Padraig expressed his gratitude to those who played a part along the journey of the book. He mentioned: “I have to say a special thanks to my wife Mary, who for 60 years has given me unwavering support, to my sister Bernadette and other family members for their help all along the way.”
“My sincerest thanks also to Offaly County Council, the Department of Culture Communications and Sport for their support, otherwise this hall would have been empty tonight. Thanks to Declan Ryan, John Leahy, Amanda Pedlow and Padraig Boland for their kind words.”
Padraig joked: “I want to assure you that no Artificial Intelligence was used to create this book and I’m living in hope that when you finish reading it, you will not conclude that no human intelligence was used either.”
He also outlined the motivation behind writing the book, the historian explained: “The ambition of the publication was to record what those who went before us had to endure and how they changed from being tenants of landlords and subjects of monarchs to be citizens of a free country, a process that was long, slow and painful over many decades.”
“The book was printed in Ireland which I think is very important because I believe in supporting our own in every way you can. Padraig Boland has launched this book on the waters of uncertain times, I hope it’ll float to reach a more peaceful future carrying the memory of the men and women of West Offaly who made it what it is today.”
The event certainly marked a fitting launch for a publication which offers a fascinating insight into an integral era in the history of West Offaly.
The book will be available at Cahill’s in Belmont, Moran’s in Shannonbridge and at the Offaly History and Archaeological Society in Tullamore while stocks last.