Landmark history of famous Offaly village and district republished

LOCAL historian P.J. Goode, author of a number of similar books about Cloneygowan and district has re-published his "History, Heritage and People of a Midlands Village (Volume One)".

Guest speaker at the recent launch in Direens – the Camán Inn - was Dr. Ciarán Reilly of the Department of History at Maynooth University. Dr Reilly is known for his interest in the history of his county and he is the author of a number of books on the subject.

In his introduction he described P.J.’s book as “bringing the reader on a trip through the local landscape. Castles, churches, mills, forges, limekilns, a publication brimming with local information: the amount of research involved displaying the work of a careful historian”.

The O’Dempsey castles are described in detail, some with re-imagined images not seen before. That family receives a full account of its doings.

There is a comprehensive list of placenames and burial records, a section of old photographs, then ending with images from the recent centenary events in the locality.

Commenting on the inclusion of old photographs, he stressed their uniqueness and the importance of making them available to any local publication such as this. He ended by commenting that the book was a brilliant piece of scholarship.

P.J. followed by displaying on screen a selection of images, especially those that gave him the greatest satisfaction in his research.

They included - old St. Mary’s 18th c. church at Raheen, plans and elevations, newspaper images of the laying of the foundation stone for the new church and a parade to that site; Ballykean Protestant church (Templetyrine) interior and exterior; Village maps and documents, 18th c. and 19th c. most not seen before; Notional re-construct images of Cloneygowan Castle; The Sconce Ballykean and the Motte of Down.

P.J. finished by saying how honoured he was by the appreciative large attendance at what was designed as a low-key book launch and promised to have Volume Two ready within the next year or two.