Offaly farmer's great life spanning 97 years chronicled in new book

GEORGE GRIFFITH was a larger than life country man whose long life revolved around the townland of Clonshanny, located between Clara and Ballycumber.
Now gone to his heavenly reward, the affable George was born in 1922 - the same year as the creation of the Free State – and his life spanned ten decades, before his passing on the eve of the Covid pandemic at the age of 97.
George's eventful life and his reflections on farming, rural Ireland, as it changed since the formation of the State, family, church and community happenings, and much much more is contained in a new publication launched in Rahan on Saturday night last.
It is obvious from the finished product that “Down the Decades” was a labour of love for author, Tom Minnock, who lives with his Mary in Clonshanny, just metres from the Griffith homestead.
Tom, who had an illustrious career in the field of education in England before returning to Ireland, said the book developed out of a series of random conversations with the late George.
Before a packed hall in Rahan hall on Saturday night last, Tom, along with the other speakers, Paschal Sweeney, Seamus Boland and Master of Ceremonies, Tom Griffith, gave a fascinating insight into George's life and times and the gems contained in the new publication.
In a wide-ranging address, Tom recounted that his “father knew George and his family and although I had not met George in my youth I felt I knew him as my father talked about him and thought very highly of him.
He continued: “Looking back, that is where this journey to this launch began. A journey of two old people chatting together about the past where the talk moved from the Minnocks to the Griffiths and to other families as we explored aspects of rural life.
“The early part was easy and undemanding as the stories unfolded in a random manner as I took a few notes and then transferred the information to the computer making more notes to clarify points and maybe I would ask a few questions to expand on this or that when I next met George. It became a habit and when events were of a certain time and outcome I would check these with a little research. I have to say here that all his information was spot on. This research might also trigger off a few more questions about events of the time and result in more material. Now, as many of us have heard a number of times a story teller will leave with the words, 'Shure I could write a book', and this was the case with George.
WOur first venture into print was with a local magazine the Village Voice as far back as Georges 90th birthday with a few of these stories which were well received and George was quietly happy with the reaction.
WWe continued on in this random manner and the 'Shure I could write a book' changed to ‘I would like to write a book’. It took me some time to process this change by which time I was informed that I was a ‘’well educated man’’ and “good at the writing’’. George, as they say, knew what buttons to press and as I said earlier that my father had great time and respect for George and I wanted George to think well of me. I soon agreed that we might as well get our conversations into some order and make the book. My ambition at this time was to produce a number of pages on the computer with a nice picture or few inside and a cover with George and his tractor on it. Bind it nicely and pass on a few copies for George and his family. Job Done ! What was I thinking.
“So, in the office I sat down and scrolled through the contents and was surprised there was so much. I re read through it to see if there were repeats and I could start deleting. There were no repeats. The stories were interesting and had a lot of factual information about the local rural life. It had humour; sadness; words of wisdom; hard times; happy times and references to social issues as well as personal observations on the uneasy religious dynamic that existed side by side with a community that was living and cooperating together each day.
“A change of journey here big time and what am I to do. To cut a long story short the outcome was to divide the book into decades of Georges conversation and use the information I had gathered when checking facts and extend it to an insight into The World and Ireland at each decade. These three lines took many months to carry out and more material built up.
“Having got the discipline and structure to record the events, I was also aware that I needed to give myself the opportunity to get George to reflect on what we had written to expand or comment on what went before and also that there were some areas of local history that did not easily fit in a particular decade. This meant that the 2000s’ became the reflective chapter.
“I shared this with George as we made progress and he was in agreement. He was amused that he would share the book with great people and events. He was particular amused that there was a description of men walking on the moon as he was described roving around Clonshanny in a 1955 Ferguson tractor. I pointed out that he got more written words that they did and as we had a great relationship, I was able to point out that people like Hitler was there also.
“Then another change of direction when suddenly George passed away, albeit as he always said to me how he wanted to, attending to the cattle. I was devastated and with Covid coming in with its isolation and fear and my good companion gone, the book was parked as the change in direction became a full stop.
“It was over a year before I approached Daphne with my idea to revive the book and it was greeted with great enthusiasm backed up by the fact that George had always kept a diary and they both contributed to it since they married. I had often been asked by George to “ask Daphne” as we explored more detail in many instances. Her contribution has been invaluable and the support of the family who were very familiar with Georges’ enthusiasm for the book was absolute.
“The ensuing information allowed me to weave more information into the decades until it was complete.
“This brought about another change of direction as the now completed story could be contrasted with a much different world environment now unfolding than the one that existed when George and I set out on the journey.
I could not resist the opportunity to use this story of a century with the challenges faced by George and his like in rural Ireland and hold it up as a beacon of hope for the young people who now face into such a challenging and uncertain future.”
Referring to the late George's habit of writing a daily diary, Paschal Sweeney, said the pratice was of the utmost importance to local history. A local history enthusiast himself, Mr Sweeney said he had been fascinated by the diaries kept by his mother, dating back to her youth in Ballycumber.
Seamus Boland, CEO of Irish Rural Link and a native of the Island, said he was just 17 when he first met George at an IFA meeting.
“George was full of advice, interest, care and concern and over the years I always got that same great concern from him,” he pointed out.
He praised the format of the book where world and Irish events over each decade are summarised followed by George's own personal memories from the period.
He noted that George acquired business skills as he originally planned to work in the drapery sector but circumstances meant he took over the family farm where these business skills came in useful, particularly in the modern era.
“George's world was Clonshanny, Clara, the Island and Ballcyumber but he was a man of the world too and knew everything about events in Ireland and the world,” outlined the Rural Link CEO.
”Down the Decades” is available from the author, local outlets and from the Offaly History Centre at Bury Quay in Tullamore.