Thurles Information » Books

Bolton Library – An Exceptional Collection Of Rare Literature

George — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:04:12 +0000

Bolton Library in the shadow of The Cathedral of St. John The Baptist, Cashel, Co. Tipp.

An exceptional collection of literature, described by experts as the one of the most important of its kind in Ireland has been taken into the care of the State, by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The Bolton Library in Cashel, Co Tipperary, was first established by an 18th century Church of Ireland Archbishop and skilled Canon Lawyer, Theophilus Bolton, (1678-1744), grandson of Sir Richard Bolton, Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Educated in Trinity College Dublin, Archbishop Bolton became Chancellor of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 1714, Bishop of Clonfert and later Bishop of Elphin in 1724, before becoming Archbishop of Cashel in 1730. The Cashel Palace Hotel directly opposite Cashel Cathedral was originally built for his convenience, as a place of residence. His rare collection of some 11,000 books maps and pamphlets were bequeathed to the Cashel Diocese following his death.

This unique collection of antiquarian European books contain the thoughts, words and deeds of mankind for over 2,500 years, and include works by Dante, Machiavelli, Homer, Herodotus, and Plato. Amongst this collection can be found an interesting letter from a citizen of Athens to the then Roman Emperor, pleading for fair and reasonable treatment of Christians and amongst the maps a Geographical Survey of Ireland printed in Dublin in 1840, which warns of the disastrous effects of continuing to plant the potato crop.

The collection, currently securely housed in the Chapter House of the Cathedral of St. John The Baptist, has been traditionally cared for by the local Protestant Clergy and despite its immediate proximity to the Rock of Cashel, this rare collection is little-known and has attracted few visitors down the years.

Dr. Martin Mansergh, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works and the Arts, said a new visitor facility would be established at the Chapter House, which will form part of the Rock of Cashel complex which he described as “Ireland’s Mediaeval Acropolis”. He hoped the extra visitor centre would add significantly to the capacity of Cashel to absorb increased numbers of visitors, and act as a signpost to the other attractions within the town.

Minister Mansergh stated:

“The site will be managed jointly by the Library of the University of Limerick and the OPW. The building will be acquired by the Irish State on a long-term lease from the Representative Church Body of the Church of Ireland, while the book collection will remain on site, but ownership will in due course be lodged with Marsh’s Library, Saint Patrick’s Close, Dublin, the latter founded in 1701 by Archbishop Narcissus Marsh as the first public library in Ireland”.

A ‘Board of Visitors’ or advisory body will now be set up comprising representatives from the OPW, the Church of Ireland, the University of Limerick and other interested bodies, to draw on their expertise in the management of the library.

Here’s hoping a decision to move the collection to Dublin is not envisuaged in the future – Dublin enriches itself enough at the great expense of rural Tipperary. e.g., The Derrynaflann Hoard found 17th February 1980 near Killenaule, Thurles, County Tipperary.

Archbishop Patrick John Ryan – His Life and Times

George — Tue, 11 May 2010 11:21:44 +0000

Archbishop Patrick John Ryan – His Life and Times – Ireland – St Louis – Philadelphia (1831-1911) was launched on May 7th by His Grace, Most Rev.Dr Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly in the Bookworm book store, here in Liberty Square, Thurles.

Our photo shows His Grace, Archbishop Dermot Clifford, with Dr Martin Mansergh T.D. who wrote a review of the book and the author, Patrick Ryan, the latter himself a native of Thurles.

Book’s Contents

When Patrick John Ryan went to St Louis, Missouri, as a deacon in 1852, he was far better prepared for the life he chose to lead, than he could have imagined.

Here in Ireland, where being a Roman Catholic was seen as a badge of exclusion, he saw how the economic and legal powers were wielded by the Protestant minority as a means of suppressing the Roman Catholic majority. He saw at first hand the concessions achieved through the actions of the Roman Catholic Church under the political leadership of Daniel O’Connell, ‘The Liberator’, (1775 – 1847), who now became his role model. He had benefited from a primary school system that developed along denominational lines and as a teenager he had witnessed the horrors of the Great Famine and the mass emigration which followed.

All of these experiences were to become directly relevant to his life and his future endeavours in America.

During his time in the United States as priest, bishop and archbishop, the Roman Catholic population quadrupled to more than fourteen million, primarily because of the influx of European immigrants.

In addition to the problems encountered as an administrator and as a shepherd to his flock, he also had to contend with the attendant hostility, prejudice and discrimination. Through the power of his intellect, his extreme warmth and his quick wit, he not only succeeded in meeting these challenges head on, but played a major role in improving Church-State and inter-church relations. He took a leadership role in supporting Native Americans and African Americans and earned an international reputation as a powerful preacher and orator.

It is likely that even if he had chosen a different career path in life, he would still have merited a biography.

The Author

Patrick Ryan was born in Thurles, County Tipperary and now lives in Dublin. He had a very successful career in banking during which he held a number of posts at executive level, including that of Chief Executive of a company providing consulting services to banks in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Following his retirement in 1999, he studied history and creative writing at University College, Dublin. His grandfather, Hugh Ryan, was a cousin and contemporary of Archbishop Ryan. While researching the life of the Archbishop in compiling his own family tree, he felt compelled to ensure that his story would be told and his achievements acclaimed through this biography.

This new book makes for compelling and highly recommended reading, for those of you who wish to further understand the life and times of Archbishop Patrick John Ryan, in a local and a global setting.

The Book pryan@thurlesbooks.comcan be ordered by contacting Bookworm, 5 Liberty Square Thurles, Co. Tipperary Email: info@bookworm.ie or from www.thurlesbooks.com Email: pryan@thurlesbooks.com

A Future Harry Potter – The Invention of Hugo Cabret

George — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:55:34 +0000

So your kids are not reading, I hear you say, stuck on the PlayStation and on the TV, on every conceivable occasion and you are worried. Want the cure ?

It’s simple – Buy a copy of “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick. Why, I hear you ask? Because it’s possibly the best children’s book produced in recent years and is categorized under the heading ‘must have’, if you want to stimulate your child’s imagination and get them into the habit of reading.

Winner of the prestigious Randolph Caldecott Medal in 2008, and like the writing’s of J.K. Rowling and Roald Dahl, both children and adults will be totally enthralled and captivated by the magical story of Hugo Cabret, an orphaned 11 year old clock keeper, living in a Parisian train station.

In addition to a thrilling adventure, involving secrets, an automaton (mechanical robot) and an eccentric little girl, “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” delivers over 300 of the most marvellous hand drawn sketches, which accompany and elaborate upon the text. Click here to watch the opening sequence of drawings in this magical read.

“The Invention of Hugo Cabret” is not exactly a novel, and it’s not quite a picture book, and it’s not really a graphic novel, or a flip book, or a movie yet, but rather a combination of all things required to captivate young minds.

Each picture, and there are nearly three hundred pages of pictures, takes up an entire double page spread, and the story moves forward, as you turn each page for a glimpse of the next moment unfolding in text. Teachers take note, this is for the classroom.

ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER, AND THIEF, twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and the owner of a small toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put into jeopardy.

A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message all come together so brilliantly, in “The Invention of Hugo Cabret“.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret can be ordered through Book Worm, Liberty Square, Thurles. This book is suitable for all children aged 6 – 60, and with its spellbinding pictures, the book encourages the less experienced readers. Although maybe at first glance, slightly expensive, this book is worth every solitary cent. Indeed, in its short lifespan, it has even attracted the attention of acclaimed director Martin Scorsese.

This is a book which children will want to possess, will want read at bedtime, discuss for hours, boast as to ownership, while loaning it to close friends, will be totally out of the question.

Meet the future successor to Harry Potter.

The Cormack Brothers – Guilty Or Innocent Republished

George — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:12:37 +0000

It happened 150 years ago this year and of the seventeen men publicly executed outside North Tipperary’s County Gaol in Nenagh, between 1842 and 1858, the true story of William and Daniel Cormack is one of the few that still remains fresh in folk memory, not just only here in County Tipperary and on the island of Ireland, but also in the USA, Australia, England and Canada.

I first heard about the Cormack Brothers as a small boy living in Co. Wexford and when I arrived here, to reside in Co.Tipperary in 1975, over the next 23 years, I listened intently to the constant and various arguments and debates, with regard as to their true guilt or innocent.

"Guilty or Innocent?" Reprinted

Then in 1998, a marvelous book, entitled appropriately ‘Guilty or Innocent?‘ by author and Tipperary historian Nancy Murphy, appeared on our book shelves. Now for the first time, lovers of history and Tipperary folklore, had compiled together and easily accessible to them, the full factual details of the Cormack Brothers trial, their execution and their exhumation.

The book was the outcome of years of extensive research, carried out painstakingly by the author, into newspapers, official and private correspondence, the Trant Papers, the Petitions for Reprieve, Parish Registers, Poor Law Rate Books and other land records. The book put together, accurately and for the very first time, the known truth, without bias. Not surprisingly the book was sold out within weeks of its original publication date and up until this week was commanding figures of in excess of €64 to €130 in just secondhand condition.

Now, due to popular demand Relay Books, Tyone, Nenagh, Co.Tipperary have agreed to republished ‘Guilty or Innocent?‘ in a limited edition, to meet the renewed interest in the Cormack Brother’s fate this year, being the 150th anniversary of their death.

The Cormack Brother’s murder trial is too complex to discuss in this blog, but Chapter 18, of this well researched book, examines aspects of the Cormack Brother’s case to be questioned, under the following headings :

Were the members of the Grand Jury correct in sending the Cormack Brothers for trial?
The conduct of the investigation as revealed in the trials;
The conduct of the trials by prosecution, defence and presiding Judge;
The quality of the evidence and consequently whether the second Trial Jury was justified in their verdict;
Were there grounds for appeal, for a case stated by the judge for judgement by the Superior Court, and ultimately for mercy by the Lord Lieutenant?

Finally, and leaving the law aside, has the widespread belief in the Cormack Brother’s innocence been justified? The author quotes the indirect evidence for this and leaves a conclusion to the reader.

Within the last few months, the tiny village of Loughmore,Co.Tipperary, native parish to William and Daniel Cormack, have marked the anniversary of their execution and exhumation, by an impressive and evocative recreation of the 1910 funeral of the brothers exhumed remains. They also staged a play, “The Cormack Brothers”, in the parish centre over seven nights, playing to full houses and standing room only.

The limited republished edition of ‘Guilty or Innocent?‘ in paperback, retails at just €12.90 plus €2.00 for postage and packing.

This book is an excellent read for factual history lovers and if you enjoy a story where ‘truth is stranger than fiction’, you can now obtain a copy of this publication from any of the following retail outlets:- Bookworm,Thurles. - J.Walsh, Main St., Templemore. John Ryan, Bookshop, Friar Street, Thurles. The book is also available from Relay Books, Tyone, Nenagh, (Email relaybooks@eircom.net.)
Take it from me this book is one good read.

Pouldine School – Inné agus Inniu

George — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:13:49 +0000

A new and exiting publication, entitled ‘Pouldine School – Inné agus Inniu’, was launched in the Horse and Jockey Hotel, on Saturday Dec. 5th last, by His Grace the Most Rev. Dermot Clifford – Archbishop of Cashel and Emly.

This 340 page book was compiled and edited by a former Principal Teacher at the school – Liam Ó Donnchú. The book traces the story of the school from its foundation during the Great Famine years beginning in 1847, the Hedge schools that preceded it and all the developments in the old and new school, down through the decades.

The official name of the school is Moycarkey National School, but as it’s situated in the townland and at the famous crossroads of Pouldine it is better known by the latter.

It’s an area steeped in sport, especially the G.A.A., where hurling and athletics were to the fore since the early years of organised sport. This love of sport is reflected in the photos and pages of the book. Indeed, the photographic content forms a significant part, with some photos going back to the early years of the last century.

Some past pupils and teachers have recalled their memories of school-days at Pouldine and these add a very interesting and sometimes humorous dimension to the book. Many articles on the local history, archaeology and folklore of the parish are included, all suitably illustrated with photographs. Former Principal Teachers and School Managers are also profiled.

All in all, a thoroughly comprehensive record of Pouldine School, which is an integral part of the Moycarkey-Borris parish and has touched the lives of generations of pupils. It will be of interest to every home in the parish and beyond.

An ideal Christmas gift for those at home and abroad or those wishing to understand, more fully, Irish life during this period in Ireland’s past.

This excellent, in-dept and value for money publication is now on sale in the following outlets – Price €20

Pouldine School, O’Keeffes, Horse and Jockey, Clohessy’s and Village Store – Littleton, Bookworm, Griffins, Lár na Páirce and Newswell Thurles Shopping Centre.

This book can also be ordered by Post (Price €25) from: Pouldine School History, Pouldine N.S., Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Tipperary Joint Libraries Upgrade Mobile Unit

George — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:48:13 +0000

Approval has been granted to the County Tipperary Joint Libraries Committee for the provision of a replacement library delivery van for County Tipperary.

Thurles Library

The grant to be provided, which will amount to €30,237.90 and this grant will go towards the purchase and provision of upgrading the present mobile library vehicle.

The accepted tender came from Surehaul (Irl) Ltd, and funding will come from the coffers of the Department of the Environment.

Local North Tipperary Independent TD Michael Lowry stated that this excellent scheme currently being provided by the Library Service would further enhanced the lives of the many people who currently used it, who would otherwise not be able to use the more conventional library services in North Tipperary.

He also stated that he hoped that the provision of this mobile library would further improve the service itself and he would encourage anyone who wished to avail of this mobile unit to immediately contact their nearest library to ascertain when the unit will visit in their area next.

RAI Children’s Book Award Winners

George — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:57:07 +0000

Celine Kiernan and Finian O'Shea

The 2009 Reading Association of Ireland (RAI) Book Award winners were announced on Thursday, 24th September in St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra at the opening of “Literacy in the 21st Century: Perspectives, Challenges and Transformations,” RAI’s 33rd Annual Conference on Literacy.

Celine Kiernan was awarded the 2009 RAI Book Award by Mr Finian O’Shea, ( RAI Committee Member and Lecturer in Education) at the Church of Ireland College of Education, for her debut novel ‘The Poison Throne‘.
The Poison Throne is the first book in a trilogy and this novel, set in a fictionalized fourteenth-century Europe, is a remarkable combination of court intrigue, adventure and romance. Fifteen-year-old Wynter Moorehawke returns with her father to the Kingdom after a five-year long banishment. Much has changed in that time, religion and race have become divisive and fear and loathing commonplace. Forced to abandon her father, she and her friends attempt to restore the fragile kingdom to its former stability.

Conor Kostick and Finian O'Shea

For his body of work, including his latest children’s novel ‘Move’, Conor Kostick received the 2009 RAI Special Merit Award. In ‘Move’ Conor Kostick has created an alternative view of alternative worlds and brings the reader on an unforgettable journey of adventure. In this, his third book, (‘Epic’ 2004 and ‘Saga’ 2006) Conor presents the story of Liam who has the ability to move between universes. He uses this ability to his and his friends’ advantage by moving to the reality that presents the best chance of things going their way for them. But, there are consequences of many kinds of such moves and Conor crafts a wonderful story around this.

There were eighty-eight eligible books submitted for the RAI Children’s Book Awards in 2009. Publishers north and south of the border were represented with a sizable representation of books in Irish. The initial reading of the books by the RAI jury brought that total to twenty titles, representing books for the very young to books more suited to adolescents. Each of the titles was considered over several
meetings before arriving at a short list of six titles.

Each one of the shortlisted books is a winner as each represents superior excellence in writing and in publishing for children in Ireland and indeed the list is well worth noting with Christmas just thirteen weeks away.

The remaining books shortlisted for the 2009 RAI Children’s Book Award were:

THE STORY OF IRELAND. Author: Brendan O’Brien, Illustrator: The Cartoon Saloon Publisher: O’Brien Press.
ADOLF SNA hARDA. Author: Marvin Halleraker, Translators: Treasa Ní Bhrua agus Magnus Vestvoll Publisher: Cois Life.
WILD DUBLIN. Author: Éanna Ní Lamhna, Photography: Anthony Woods Publisher: O’Brien Press.
HAL’S SLEEPOVER. Author: Maddie Stewart, Illustrator: Greg Massardier Publisher: O’Brien Press.

The RAI book awards were announced this year by Tipperary Comedian Pat Shortt .

RAI is anon-profit organisation whose primary aim is to promote and disseminate best practice in the teaching and study of literacy. It was founded in 1975 and is run on a voluntary basis by its members who comprise of educationalists at first, second and third-level. RAI is affiliated to the International Reading Association, a body with over 100,000 members worldwide. To find out more about RAI and its activities visit www.reading.ie.

RAI Announce Their 2009 Shortt List

George — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:06:14 +0000

Currently working on the pilot of his new series ‘Mattie’, accomplished writer, comedian, performer and Tipperary native Pat Shortt, took some time out of his hectic filming schedule to check out the six books, shortlisted for the 2009 Reading Association of Ireland (RAI) Children’s Book Award.

Established in 1984, the RAI Children’s Book Award has been awarded every second year to the authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and adolescents published in Ireland.

Six Books Shortlisted For The 2009 RAI Children’s Book Award

THE STORY OF IRELAND
Author: Brendan O’Brien.
Illustrator: The Cartoon Saloon
Publisher: O’Brien Press

Pat Shortt with Tipperary readers Maria Cullinane, Ryan Grace and Killian Cullinane.

WILD DUBLIN
Author: Éanna Ni Lamhna
Photography: Anthony Woods.
Publisher: O’Brien Press

MOVE
Author: Conor Kostick
Publisher: O’Brien Press

THE POISON THRONE (Book 1, The Moorehawk Trilogy).
Author: Celine Kiernan
Publisher: O’Brien Press

ADOLF SNA hARDA
Author: Marvin Halleraker
Translators: Treasa Ní Bhrua agus Magnus Vestvoll
Publisher: Cois Life

HAL’S SLEEPOVER
Author: Maddie Stewart
Illustrator: Greg Massardier
Publisher: O’Brien Press

The 2009 RAI Book Award winners will be announced on Thursday, 24th September next in St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra at the opening of “Literacy in the 21st Century: Perspectives, Challenges and Transformations,” RAI’s 33rd Annual Conference on Literacy.

The RAI is a non-profit organisation whose primary aim is to promote and disseminate best practice in the teaching and study of literacy. It was founded in 1975 and is run on a voluntary basis by its members who comprise of educationalists at first, second and third-level. RAI is affiliated to the International Reading Association, a body with over 100,000 members worldwide.
To find out more about RAI and its activities visit www.reading.ie.

Irelands Economic Crash

George — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:23:40 +0000

From the author of The Celtic Tiger: The Myth of Special Partnership (2000) and The Corporate Takeover of Ireland (2007) comes a new book entitled ‘Irelands Economic Crash’.

The author, Dr. Kieran Allen, a senior lecturer at the School of Sociology in University College Dublin, recounts how a miracle economy turned into an economic disaster zone. While ordinary people suffer hardships, the government seeks solutions through bailing out banks and imposing wage cuts, levies and reductions in basic public services. The result is a downward spiral with further unnecessary expenditure, skyrocketing health care costs, soaring personal debt and increased government spending.

Ireland’s Economic Crash is a call for new thinking about economic alternatives for Ireland’s future

In this damning critique, Dr Allen advocates a withdrawal of state support to private banks and the creation of a “good” public banking system. He calls for a scheme of public works to give jobs to the unemployed and to stimulate an economy on the verge of extinction. He argues that those who made vast fortunes during the boom years should carry the cost of cleaning up the mess they largely created. Shifting from the local to global dimensions, Allen examines the reckless growth of our ‘casino economy’ where valuable resources were squandered by hedge funds and other financial speculators. He suggests that our current ‘for profit’ system is facing a deep, long-term crisis.

Written in a clear and very accessible style, this book backs up its claims using carefully marshalled evidence and logical argument, destroying five myths about the Irish crash, including the belief that we must all share pain. It further goes on to propose specific solutions to our present crisis.

Dr Allen launched his book at a public meeting in Grants Hotel, Castle St., Roscrea, Co. Tipperary recently.

Thurles Author Tom Burnell – A Second Book – The Wicklow War Dead

George — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:19:08 +0000

Thurles author Tom Burnell colaberates with his brother Seamus Burnell to produce his second book entitled The Wicklow War Dead.

This new book contains a full record, for the first time, of some 840 soldiers, officers, sailors, airmen, nursing sisters from County Wicklow, 752 from WW1, together with the names of casualties who listed their next of kin as residents of Co.Wicklow. Casualties named, died during WW1 and WW2 while in the service of the British Army, the Australian Army, the NewZealand Army, the American Army, the Indian Army, the Nursing Service, the Canadian Army, Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service, the South African Army, the Royal Navy and lastly the Mercantile Marine.

There were seven children born to Patrick (Pakie) and Peggy (Margaret) Burnell in Finglas, Dublin during the 1950s. Margaret, Paddy, Tom, Seamus, Paul, Greg and Michelle and four of the lads served in the Irish Defence Forces here at home, on the South Armagh, Monaghan, Cavan, and Louth borders, during the ‘troubles’ and overseas with the United Nations on peace keeping duties. Their relations have fought in World War 1 and World War 2 and two of them died during the Irish Civil War. It is therefore no mystery that the author and his brother still hold an interest in all things military.

Like most Dublin families at least one of their parents came from outside The Pale, so it was not surprising that every one of Pakie Burnell’s children moved out of Dublin to the countryside to enjoy a more peaceful and a slower pace of life. Some things are taken for granted by people who reside in rural areas, not least of which is that they are surrounded by history and solitude.

This new book contains not only all the casualties of two World Wars buried in County Wicklow but also includes those who were not native to Irish soil. The disproportionate amount of Wicklow casualties sent to watery graves by German torpedoes, mostly men from Arklow in Co.Wicklow, were one of the major surprises in this research, as were the number of unfortunate airmen who came to rest here in the Garden of Ireland from places far afield. Wicklow men were involved in every action of both wars on land, sea and in the air. Some of them died of their wounds in England after receiving a ‘blighty wound’. However the majority of them died on varying battlefields. A surprising amount of these have no known graves and remain just a name on a cold stone memorial.

If no one-else remembers these unfortunate men and women, their sacrifice will at least be recorded thanks to this little book ‘ The Wicklow War Dead’.