Last Man Killed in the Irish Civil War

© The Publishers

Full title: Commemoration of Centenary of Death of Neil “Plunkett” Boyle 15 May 1923 – 15 May 2023 Knocknadruce, Valleymount, Co. Wicklow

Creator / Author: Pádraig O’Baoighill (translation by Maureen Phibbs)

Item Type / Page count: Booklet / 46p

When Published: 2023

Publisher / Place of Publication: Not Stated / Co. Wicklow?

About: Neil ‘Plunkett’ Boyle was born in County Donegal in 1898 and he reputedly became the last man to be killed in the Irish Civil War when he was shot at Knocknadruce, Valleymount in West Wicklow on 15^th May, 1923. This booklet was published to commemorate the centenary of his death. Most of the content of this booklet is taken from the book ‘Óglach na Rosann’ by Pádraig O’Baoighill (1994). The original Irish text has been translated by Maureen Phibbs.

ID number(s): None

Chapters: [Foreword: Neil “Plunkett” Boyle in West Wicklow 1922-1923] — Dedication — Plunkett of the Hills (ballad) — 1916-1923 — Neil Boyle — Comdt. Neil “Plunkett” Boyle (ballad) / Dominic O’Kelly — Neil Boyle in West Wicklow — Dunlavin — Hempstown (Tinode) — Blessington — Valleymount — Commandant Tom Heavey’s Memories of Neil Boyle — The Killing of John Moore at Mooney’s Pub in Manor Kilbride — Kylebeg — Manor Kilbride — Lacken — Ballyknockan — Knocknadruce — Funeral of Neil “Plunkett” Boyle — Members of Plunkett’s Column — Timeline of Events in Irish History 1914-1949 — “Plunkett” O’Boyle (ballad) / Annie Timoney — Acknowledgements.

Extra #1: Includes six photographs.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #4: Browse the 1911 Census entry for Neil Boyle, Lackenagh, Co. Donegal.

Remembering Tim Lennon 1898-1990

© The Publisher

Full title: When Yez’ Lave’ Me in Baltyboys..

Creator / Author: Mattie Lennon

Item Type / Page count: Magazine Article / 1pp

Journal Information: Ireland’s Eye Magazine, Issue 458, pp. (inside cover)

When Published: February 2019

Publisher / Place of Publication: Ireland’s Eye / 6 Dominick Street, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

About: A short one-page obituary of Tim Lennon, who “first saw the light over Blackhill on 17^th November, 1898” and who died in Baltinglass Hospital in March 1990. This obituary, written by his son, Mattie, was first published in the parish newsletter.  

Extra #1: Read this article online via the website of Mattie Lennon Poet, Author, Folklorist and Traditional Lyricist

The Memories of Séamus Balfe

© John Hussey

Full title: Another world: hill farming in the Wicklow Mountains: Séamus Balfe’s memories of Lackan, Kylebeg and Ballynultagh

Creator / Author: John Hussey

Item Type / Page count: Book / 107p

When Published: 2019

Publisher / Place of Publication: The Author / [Co. Wicklow]

About: If this book came out in a hardback edition it might be known as a ‘coffee-table’ book, given its size and format (21 x 30 cm). It is a handsome presentation of the recollections of Séamus Balfe on social and farming life in the uplands of West Wicklow. The book arose out of a series of interviews that John Hussey conducted with Séamus Balfe between 2006 and 2019 and this end result perfectly preserves memories of a way of life that will disappear all too soon.

ID number(s): 9781913108182

Contents: Introduction – Life around Lackan in the early 1940’s – Shops and Traders – Escapades in Dublin — Entertainment — Hill-farming at Lackan and Kylebeg — Fairs, marts and droving – Ballynultagh: a forgotten place — Wicklow houses — Illnesses, doctors and death — Easing off and easing out.

Extra #1: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #2: Includes maps and photographs.

Extra #3: Link to John Hussey’s page on Academia.edu

Lighting Up Parts of West Wicklow

© The Publisher

Full title: Then there was light: stories powered by the rural electrification scheme in Ireland

Creator / Author: P.J. Cunningham and Joe Kearney (editors).

Item Type / Page count: Book / 248p

When Published: 2016

Publisher / Place of Publication: Ballpoint Press / 4 Wyndham Park, Bray, Co. Wicklow

About:  This book, which is dedicated to ‘all those who had a role in the electrification of rural Ireland’ goes behind the roll-out of the Rural Electrical Scheme. The editors have sought out personal eyewitness accounts and short stories based on the experiences of ordinary people throughout the countryside. Four of the chapters / stories are based in West Wicklow and feature Stratford-on-Slaney, Knockananna, Lacken and Carrigeen/Irongrange.

ID number(s): 9780995479319

Contents: [West Wicklow items only] “I Have Lived …” / Alo Brady — Night of the Long Count in a Wicklow Village / Con Foley — Oh For a Penny Ice Cream and the Smell of Creosote! / Mattie Lennon — Lighting on the Wall / Declan P. Gowran.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #3: Link to the Publisher’s website at: http://www.ballpointpress.ie/

Weaving Down the King’s River Valley

© John Hussey

Full title: Wool and Weaving in the Kings River Valley, County Wicklow: 1660’s to 1840s

Creator / Author: John Hussey

Item Type / Page count: eBook / 95p

When Published: March 2^nd, 2016

Publisher / Place of Publication: John Hussey / [Co. Wicklow?]

About: The Quaker community based around Baltyboys were responsible for wool production in the area and supplied Dublin with this commodity. Later this enterprise developed into carding, spinning and weaving operations. In this substantial e-book publication, local author, John Hussey, details the almost 200-year history of wool and weaving in the King’s River Valley.

ID number(s): None

Contents: Abstract – Author details – Notes — Acknowledgements – 1650 to 1699 – The wool and weaving industries in Ireland — 1699 to c.1740 – The Wool Act and rustication — c.1750 – Weaving and tuck mills — 1760s – Road improvements — 1760s to 1770s – Pirn/Warping mills — 1770s to 1790s – The commercial state of Co. Wicklow — 1798 – The United Irish Rebellion — 1800 to 1840s — The final decline and death of weaving – Epilogue – Appendix 1 – Valleymount and hat-making – Appendix 2 – Weaving in the town of Blessington and on the estate – Appendix 3 – Flax growing and linen weaving in Co. Wicklow – Appendix 4 – General Holt’s metal boilers.

Extra #1: Includes several maps, photographs and illustrations.

Extra #2: Link to the author’s page on Academia.edu

Update July 2022: This ebook does not appear to be currently available online.