Local History: Richard Roche on an A to Z of obscure terms, settlements in west Tipp and Listowel, a Waterford boat club and the glory of the Glen of Aherlow
If there is one book that should be on the desk of every local historian then it must be Joseph Byrne's Dictionary of Irish Local History, a new 350-page vade mecum for anyone attempting to research, assemble and write local history. Probably the most daunting aspect of such a task is understanding the terminology of primary and secondary sources, which are often couched in archaic language, contain arcane expressions and are littered with strange words and phrases. What, for example, are "capell lands" or a "latitat" or "soum"? This comprehensive guide, arranged in dictionary form and covering the past from earliest times to about 1900, is an invaluable aid for local historians or even general readers with an interest in history. It includes a wide range of entries from A to Z and renders the obscure and often obsolete language of the past meaningful to Irish readers. "Capell lands", incidentally, was an old Gaelic spatial measurement; a "latitat" (still heard in some areas) was a writ of the king's bench issued to a county sheriff for the apprehension of a defendant, while "soum" was a unit of mountain grazing commonage. If you doubt that there could be an entry under "Z" in a dictionary of Irish local history, then "Zoilomastix" will surprise and reward you. It's on page 331. That's not all - there is a 16-page bibliography as well.
One local historian, at least, who knows where to find and how to use his sources to splendid effect is Dr Denis G. Marnane in Land and Settlement: A History of West Tipperary to 1660 - the second part of his mag num opus that began in 1985 with the publication of Land and Violence: A History of West Tipperary from 1660. The two volumes thus cover the story of a region of the county steeped in history - a county described by a 17th-century traveller as one "as lovely as ever I saw in Ireland or almost England". It is the story of the barony of Clanwilliam and the impact of three leading families on the area, the O'Briens, the Burkes and the Butlers, representing the three general periods covered by Dr Marnane. It is an exhaustive narrative history, drawing on a multitude of sources marshalled with skill and with many photographs, maps and drawings. The central theme is the story of the landscape itself, its settlement and exploitation and its effects on its inhabitants in war and in peace. The author groups his references under chapter headings at the back and there is a comprehensive bibliography included in these notes, demonstrating Dr Marnane's scholarship and mastery of sources.
Anthony Gaughan is a local historian who has gone back to his native Listowel to complete this supplement to his critically acclaimed 1973 publication, Listowel and its Vicinity. Listowel and its Vicinity since 1973 brings the history of the town up to date, chronicling its industrial, commercial, cultural and sporting activities, with pen-pictures of its more famous citizens, covering the past 30 years. Father Gaughan will forgive this reviewer (I hope) for likening his book to a supplement, since it includes 20 pages of additions and corrections to the second edition (1974) of the ground-breaking Listowel and its Vicinity. The town, of course, merits such attention to detail and there is no-one better fitted to complete the task than one of its many distinguished writers.
The history of a boat club may not, at first sight, seem to be the ideal setting for local lore but Eithne Scallan, accomplished historian that she is, has crammed a lot of local history into her latest book, The Boar Club, The Story of Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club 1873-2003. With a long record of boating, fishing and maritime activity, Wexford Harbour, expansive yet dangerous, has seen Gael, Viking, Norman and English come and go. St Ibar was there in the fifth century, the Vikings in the ninth, the Confederate Navy in the 17th. The local boat club was founded in 1873 and still thrives. Scallan chronicles not only its history but includes also vivid snippets about, for example, the famous Wexford cots and gabbards, ship-building, the US Naval Air Station of 1918, the town's bridges, and some colourful characters in the club itself. There are many illustrations, more than a few in colour. In all, a delight, published by the author herself.
Michael Lynch's Behold Aherlow, a little book in size but not in content, is rich in detail about the Glen of Aherlow, stretching from Bansha to Galbally in Tipperary. It is a "wonderful, magical glen", according to the author and dare anyone disagree with that after reading this book. Michael Lynch was born and reared in the townland of Gurtavoher in the same glen and here he records the history of the place, events in his life, reminiscences of locals, tales of the War of Independence (including, of course, the story of Knocklong) and details of the founding of Muintir na Tíre in Tipperary town in 1937. Bansha was the curacy of Father John Hayes who was the originator of the movement and its leading light for many years. The book, obviously a labour of love on the part of Michael Lynch, is a valuable record of life in a rural area in times past. The many illustrations could have been reproduced in a larger format and would have added to the appeal of this publication.
Richard Roche is a local historian, writer and critic
Byrne's Dictionary of Local History By Joseph Byrne Mercier Press. €20
Land and Settlement: A History of West Tipperary to 1660 By Denis G. Marnane Ara Press. €35 (h/b); €25 (p/b)
Listowel and its Vicinity since 1973 By J. Anthony Gaughan Curach Press €14.99 (h/b); €9.99 (p/b)
The Boat Club: The Story of Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club 1873-2003 By Eithne Scallan Carraig Mór House, Wexford. €25
Behold Aherlow By Michael Lynch Rectory Press, Portlaw. €20