Launch of ‘Old Blarney’ Journal Issue 11

Blarney and District Historical Society has reached yet another excellent objective with the launch of a new ‘Old Blarney’ Journal on Wednesday 23^rd May 2018 at 8.00 p.m. in the Blarney Castle Hotel. This is the 11^th issue in the Journal series and it is a really welcome addition to the collection. It contains 132 printed pages of articles and photographs, printed on high quality gloss paper and depicting life from an era no longer with us. These articles have captured the ways in which the people of Blarney & District once lived, died, worked and enjoyed themselves with the social changes which occurred over the years being very much evident in the collection.

Mr. Richard Bolster, Society Chairman, opened the function with a short speech during which he welcomed Cllr. Kevin Conway, Deputising for Cllr. Declan Hurley Mayor of County of Cork, invited guests, our own members, and the general public. Richard stated that; We, in the Society take enormous pride in the fact that, by producing our ‘Old Blarney’ Journal 11, we are continually contributing something new to the body of knowledge being amassed about our historic village.

The Chairman then introduced Cllr. Kevin Conway, a long-standing member of the Society who was Deputising for Cllr. Declan Hurley Mayor of the County of Cork, County, and invited him to say a few words about the occasion and its importance to the Blarney and District area. Cllr. Conway, who began his speech ‘as Gaeilge’ as it is ‘Bliain na Gaeilge 2018’ congratulated the Society on the production of yet another excellent edition which has added greatly to understanding life from an era now long gone and has captured the ways in which the people of Blarney & District once lived, worked and enjoyed themselves and the social changes which occurred during this time are very much evident in the articles. He wished the Society well in its future endeavours.

Thanking Cllr. Conway for his contribution and kind words about the Society and its work, the Chairman also thanked a number of people closely associated with the journal;

“Especially Ian and the Forrest Family of the Blarney Castle Hotel for again sponsoring the launch, making the Killowen Room available and supplying the refreshments. It is indeed very much appreciated. The Forrest Family have been doing this for the Society now for a number of years. They are a very supportive family of all things local and are fully deserving of local support in return. He then thanked the shopkeepers, businesses and media involved in the sale and publicity of these journals. He thanked the printers, Carrig Print of Carrigtwohill for once again providing a Journal of excellent high quality. He also thanked the members of Blarney/Macroom Municipal District of Cork County Council for the provision of a most welcome, and appreciated, Amenity Grant towards the constantly rising production costs of the Journal. He also thanked the Publications Committee, before inviting the Honorary Editor of ‘Old Blarney’, Mr. John Mulcahy, to say some words about this latest endeavour. John mentioned all the articles and their authors, highlighting the importance of collecting and publishing these priceless accounts of a time which is passing quickly from people’s memories. Stressing the importance of preserving memories of these places and people, he felt these articles would be of important social value for years to come. John then declared the ‘Old Blarney’ Journal to be officially launched.

Thanking John for officially launching the Journal, the Chairman invited the attendance to enjoy the refreshments and a very successful and pleasant evening followed.    BG.