Richard Roche on volumes that explain why historical societies are thriving. Local history books and journals often contain the most esoteric nuggets of information - all in a local history context, of course.
In the Journal of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, Series 2, Volume 2, one can find Aristotle advocating the killing of deformed children (in Emer Dennehy's fascinating study of ceallúnaigh, or children's graveyards) or the fact that Caroline of Brunswick, exiled wife of George IV, was regarded as "a tourist attraction in her own right", because of her corpulence, possibly, when members of the Godfrey family from Kilcoleman Abbey visited Marseilles in 1816 (see John G. Knightly's contribution on Eleanor Godfrey). There are many other delights in this volume, not the least of which is Pat Feeley's article on Padraig O'Keeffe, the last Glountane fiddle-master, who had 400 tunes in his head. Other learned pieces come from Tracy Collins, Paul MacCotter, Bob Fitzsimons, Paul Dillon and Kieran McNulty, whose article on 'Revolutionary Movements in Kerry 1913 to 1923 - A Social and Political Analysis' concludes a study begun in Volume 1 in 2001. It is obvious from the long list of members that the society is thriving. Journals such as this indicate why.
"Emergency" Air Incidents, South-East Ireland 1940-45 is local history of our own times - at least for those who lived through the "Emergency" of 1939-45. It is a detailed account of air incidents (bombings, crashes and forced landings) involving British, German and American aircraft in counties Carlow, Laois, Kilkenny, Waterford and, principally, Wexford. In the period 1940-45, 10 British, eight German and three US aircraft made forced landings or crashed in the area in question or in adjacent waters. There were also several bombing incidents, in some of which locals were killed. British and US air crews were usually slipped across the border to the North while Luftwaffe personnel were interned. This reviewer met some of them while at UCD in 1944-45 - they were permitted day-release on parole to attend the university. Patrick Cummins has drawn on newly available documents to add fresh detail to their stories and to the other incidents recounted in this valuable record. It should be of special interest to people in the counties mentioned and also to the many still living who remember the events so concisely described here. There are also numerous photographs to further refresh those memories.
Castlehaven, in south-west Co Cork, possibly deserves, more than many other little ports and villages on the Irish coast, a special maritime history of its own. It gets it in Past Speech of the Sea, a short, personal exposition - aided by some fine archival photographs - of the story, landmarks, connections with yachts and fishing-boats, and people whose names are forever linked with the place. The author himself is no stranger to these shores and has written a book that reflects his love of and links with Castlehaven. Its history is truly long and colourful - from its origins as St Barrahane, through the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries with incursions by Spaniards, the English and finally yachtsmen from all over the world. The old village got a new site and name at Castletownsend in the late 1600s after Cromwell had granted land to the Townsend family. The British navy used the harbour as a base; today the Irish Naval Service uses it as an anchorage, but it is chiefly known as a beautiful and welcoming haven for yachtsmen and fishermen. Without doubt, Castlehaven has now got the literary attention it has long awaited.
The last six listed titles left are short specific studies, published in the Maynooth Studies in Local History series in 2003, and form part of a 50-volume collection of theses written for the MA in Local History module at Maynooth by local historians who choose their own subjects. As the series editor, Raymond Gillespie, writes in an introduction, the achievements of these local historians provide evidence of the enthusiasm for the study of local history in Ireland and also reflect the importance attached to local events and personalities in the recording of the history of our country.
All six studies are intensively researched and their authors bring a distinctive local knowledge to their respective subjects. These are vivid snapshots of people and places not normally mentioned in the Irish story but which, nevertheless, form indispensable segments of the still-emerging picture of Ireland's past.
- Journal of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, Series 2, Volume 2 Published by the society
- "Emergency" Air Incidents, South-East Ireland 1940-45 By Patrick J. Cummins 22 Comeragh Park, Lismore Heights, Waterford. €12. 50
- Past Speech of the Sea: A Maritime History of Castlehaven By Timothy Chevasse Galley Head Press, Clonakilty. €20
- All titles below are part of the Maynooth Studies in Local History series 2003, published by Four Courts Press, €9.95
- The Irish National League in Dingle, County Kerry 1885-1892 By Donnacha Sean Lucey
- Christopher Dillon Bellew and his Galway Estates 1763-1826 By Joe Clarke
- Sir Charles Domville and his Shankill estate, County Dublin 1857-1871 By Rob Goodbody
- Headford, County Galway 1775-1901 By Gerardine Candon
- Violence and Nationalist Politics in Derry City, 1920-1923 By Ronan Gallagher
- A Galway Landlord During the Great Famine By John Joseph Conwell
- Richard Roche is an author and local historian