Offaly man compiles massive collection of Faithful songs and stories

A COMPREHENSIVE collection of stories and songs, facts and photographs, history and heritage, will be launched on Sunday, November 23 in Tullamore.

Local man Raymond Daly (pictured below) has described his book Ten Faithful Years (1913 – 1923) in Song and Story as a nine-year journey which was inspired by the 1916 commemorative events he attended in 2016.

Raymond recalls that his granduncle, John (Jack) Martin was one of the Irish Volunteers in the Sinn Fein rooms in Tullamore on the night of March 20, 1916 where the 'Tullamore Incident' occurred.

The Tullamore Incident became known as 'the first shots of 1916' and it was commemorated on its 100th anniversary.

Raymond adds: “On the night of March 20, 2016 the crowd who attended made their way down town from the Tullamore courthouse with lit candles in a glass to the spot where the Sinn Fein rooms were on William Street. Local historian Michael Byrne gave a powerful inspiring speech on the events which had took place 100 years previously.”

“Secondly, on Easter Monday 2016 myself, my wife Nicola and our two daughters Sarah and Roisin went to Dublin on the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising. This was a wonderful emotive occasion with a great sense of national pride and honour in our heroic 1916 leaders.

“These events brought me on an amazing journey of detailed and comprehensive research with the end result - 512 pages – with over 100 songs and ballads from before, during and after the Revolutionary period (1913 - 1923), plus songs and ballads from the Great War (1914 – 1918).”

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Raymond gave a public talk about the book at the Offaly History Centre last month, explaining how it offers a vivid account of the Irish heroes and events that shaped the nation during the decade between 1913 and 1923.

Blending song, story, and local history, it highlights the courage and resilience of the people’s army and the communities who supported them in Tullamore, Offaly, and south Westmeath.

“The contents of this book are a tribute to that wonderful generation,” Daly said. “My goal is to inform and inspire readers about the courage and commitment shown by those who fought for Irish freedom.”

Ten Faithful Years (1913 – 1923) in Song and Story will be launched on Sunday, November 23 in the Central Hotel, Tullamore at 3pm.