History: All the books reviewed here more than live up to those high standards and are, indeed, fine examples of what can be achieved locally by dedicated researchers, writers, publishers and printers
Pride of place goes to The Story of Mayo, a lavish production - written, published and printed in Castlebar - which is a celebration, in narrative and pictorial form, of Ireland's third-largest county and its people. If this is not already on the shelves of most households in Mayo, it should be, not just for the story it tells but for the sheer attraction of its magnificent collection of period monochrome and full-colour modern photographs. These are nicely integrated with the well-researched text in an exemplary design by Sally O'Leary. Mayo has a long and interesting history - it is doubtful if a better or more beautiful way of describing that history can be found anywhere else.
Another fine example of community effort is found in The District of Loughrea, Volumes I and II (more than 1,000 pages in all), the culmination of four years' work in a FÁS-sponsored project which, like similar initiatives in other parts of rural Ireland, is currently under threat because of Government cutbacks. Volume I provides a history of the period 1791 to 1918 in Loughrea and surrounding area, while the second volume comprises folklore of the period 1860-1960. Twenty-five historians contributed articles, extensively annotated, to Volume I while more than 50 local people provided the material for the second volume, in addition to folklore collected by schoolchildren in the 1930s. The two volumes are rich in detail and present a varied and colourful account of life in the Loughrea district over recent centuries. The books do not just constitute a valuable record but are a lasting testimonial to the enduring efforts of the project team, nearly 100 of whom either obtained employment or have progressed to further education as a result of their work. Surely two good reasons for a Government rethink on all such projects.
The poet John Betjeman, in one of his commentaries, called it "a cheerful Irish castle with a seaside rather than a fortress flavour". Brian de Breffny and George Mott described it as "a glorious extravaganza", a comment which has aptly been chosen by Etain Murphy as the title for his book A Glorious Extravaganza: The history of Monkstown parish church. This, too, is a lavish production of more than 400 pages within hard covers and flapped jacket, the result of nine years' labour dedicated to recording the long and colourful history not just of the building itself but of the district, its inhabitants and events that occurred there. That history reaches back to the eighth century when monks from Inis Patrick (off Skerries, in north Co Dublin) founded a monastery and church at Carrickbrennan. The present church dates from 1831 and has variously been described as "grotesque", "curious-looking", "nondescript" and "a Lusitanian marvel". Readers will have to make up their own minds - and the obvious way to do so is to purchase and treasure this marvellous book, in itself "a glorious extravaganza" of a volume.
Four hundred well-written pages devoted to just one townland in Portavo: An Irish townland and its people - and this is just Part 1! The author was apparently astounded by the wealth of history in such a small place and he has transferred that richness to an engrossingly detailed record of the townland and its story. He goes back to 7,000 BC and chronicles the turbulent times and events in this small corner of Ireland. Gaels, Vikings, Normans, Scots, English; families such as the Rosses, Kers, Perrys, Barrs, Smiths and Martins; events of 1603 (plantation), 1641 (rebellion), 1798 (another rebellion); landlords and tenants, fishermen, farmers and smugglers - they are all here in a colourful tapestry woven with skill and wit by an accomplished historian.
Although primarily a history of Donaghmore Co-operative Creamery, in a corner of Co Laois, Teddy Fennelly's detailed, 400-page record of events in A Triumph of Co-operation over Adversity is also a story of rural endeavour and success. Founded in 1927, Donaghmore Co-op was one of the key players in the formation of Avonmore which, in alliance with Waterford, became Glanbia, one of the biggest producers of food in the world. The author (and editor) draws on the minute-books of the first 40 years of Donaghmore and has added the reminiscences of many workers to provide a vivid picture of Irish rural life over the past 77 years.