In The Footsteps of Dean Swift

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Full title: Mark of Protest: an autobiography

Creator / Author: Victor Griffin

Item Type / Page count: Book / 235p

When Published: 1993

Publisher / Place of Publication: Gill & Macmillan Ltd. / Goldenbridge, Dublin 8.

About: This is the autobiography of The Very Reverend Victor Gilbert Benjamin Griffin, also known as Dean Victor Griffin. He is a Church of Ireland clergyman, who after spending over 20 years ministering in Derry, was appointed Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. He held this position from 1969 to 1991 and became a well-known figure in Irish public life.

ID number(s): 0717118746

Chapters: Acknowledgements — Childhood — Farm — Living in a Minority Community — Kilkenny — Mountjoy — Trinity — Derry — Northern Divisions — Daphne — St. Patrick’s Cathedral — Appeal — Croke Park and Lansdowne Road — Visitors to St. Patrick’s – Dublin in Crisis – Inflammatory Words – Battling for Pluralism – Ecumenical Needs – The Protestant Perspective – Index.

WW Connection #1: Victor Griffin was born in Carnew in South West Wicklow in 1924.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #3: Includes eight pages of black & white photographs.

Extra #4: View the 1911 Census Return for the Griffins of Woolgreen Street, Carnew.

Book Written About Man From Stratford on Slaney

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Full title: The Reminiscences of John Montgomery

Creator / Author: by John Montgomery (edited by A. Giffard)

Item Type / Page count: Book / 202p

When Published: 1981

Publisher / Place of Publication: A.A. Balkema (for Rhodes University Grahamstown) / Cape Town, South Africa

About: A recent internet searcher looking for ‘book written about man from Stratford on Slaney Co Wicklow’ visited our blog. We are presuming that the book in question is this one. John Montgomery came from Stratford and, while barely 17 years old, joined a party of Irish settlers who arrived in South Africa in May 1820. His was an adventurous life and these reminiscences cover 50 years of spectacular ups and downs.

ID number(s): 0869611240

Contents: Introduction: John Montgomery’s life and writings – Boyhood in Ireland – The voyage to the Cape – My first impressions – The Albany settlement – Graaff-Reinet and Craddock – My first trading trips – Frontier adventures – Trekking with the Boers – The founding of Burghersdorp – War with the Basuto – Trading in the Transvaal – The British Settlers’ Jubilee – Appendices: 1. Why Mr. J. Montomery ‘Threw up the Touw’ – 2. In memoriam John Montgomery – 3. Obituary of Mrs. J. Montgomery – 4. Montgomery children – 5. Viljoen’s hunting trip – 6. Story of Z. Wright.

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

Extra #2: Contains twenty-one full-page illustrations, drawings and photographs.

Holt up in the Wicklow Mountains

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Full title: Rebellion in Wicklow: General Joseph Holt’s Personal Account of 1798

Creator / Author: Joseph Holt (edited by Peter O’Shaughnessy)

Item Type / Page count: Book / 176p

When Published: 1998

Publisher / Place of Publication: Four Courts Press / Fumbally Court, Fumbally Lane, Dublin 8

About: A first-hand account by a major participant in the 1798 Rebellion. Joseph Holt took the side of the Irish rebels and operated a guerilla campaign based in the Wicklow Mountains.  This book was published in the bicentenary year of the Rebellion.

ID number(s): 1851823662

Contents: Foreword — Preface — Calendar of events — Songs — Editor’s Introduction — The Life and Adventures of Joseph Holt, prior to his transportation, annotated — Editor’s Postscript – Appendices: [1] Some Opinions Regarding Joseph Holt – [2] Unrest in Wicklow in the Months Before the Rebellion – [3] The Battle of Ballyellis – [4] Croppy Biddy Dolan – [5] Informers’ Reports – [6] Documents Concerning Holt’s Surrender – [7] Thomas Hugo – [8] Holt Witnesses an ‘exemplary’ Flogging in New South Wales – Source References – Maps – Index.

WW Connection #1: Includes references to many locations in West Wicklow that are associated with the actions of Joseph Holt.

Extra #1: Includes map of locations in South Dublin, Wicklow and North Wexford..

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #4: Search the contents of this book via the Hathi Trust website. Note: The fulltext of this book is not available here.

Donard as Community Exemplar

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Full title: Stone on the Pier: Green Memoirs and Stories from Donard 2008

Creator / Author: Compiled and edited by Pauline Devine

Item Type / Page count: Book / 94p

When Published: 2008

Publisher / Place of Publication: Donard, Co. Wicklow / Donard I.C.A. Co-ordinated Intergenerational Project.

About: This book  is the fruit of a project which began in 2005. It comprised three strands. Firstly, members of Donard I.C.A. and their friends wrote stories. Secondly, writer-in-residence, Pauline Devine interviewed and recorded the memoirs of senior citizens of the area. Lastly, the pupils of the local school engaged in local activities and wrote about their experiences under the supervision of their teachers. The themes of community and sustainability are strongly reflected in the pieces that appear in this book which was accompanied by project exhibitions held locally.

ID number(s): None

Chapters: Foreword — Introduction — Contributors — Stone on the pier / Bridie Tyrrell — Neighbours / Mary Manley — Making music in hard times / Tommy Whittle — Local food from farm and river / Lily Allen — Earwigs in the house / Claire Walsh — Football in Donard – the glory years / Jack Flynn — Girl on a farm / Jude Kearney — ‘The old people had Gaelic’ / Bill Cullen — School, work and play in Coolamadra / Kit Walshe — The windy road to school / Bridget Whittle — Slow cooking / Lil Dwyer — Adventures in the open air / Jimmy Moore — Wholesome times / Margaret Fielder — Brown paper schoolbook covers / Maureen Quigley — Body clocks in time with the seasons / Nora Whelan — My first day at school / Mary Stynes — Granny’s Hat / Josephine Ryan — Children’s corner: stories and responses — The Irish Countrywomen’s Association in Donard / Maureen Quigley — List of sponsors.

Extra #1: includes several colour photographs of the contributors and historical black & white pictures of the locality.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

From Orphanage to Ordination

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Full title: That could never be: a memoir

Creator / Author: Kevin Dalton with Patrick Semple

Item Type / Page count: Book / 192p

When Published: 2003

Publisher / Place of Publication: Columba Press /55A Spruce Avenue, Stillorgan Industrial Park, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

About: A memoir of the life of Kevin Dalton, who as a child spent fourteen years in orphanages. He had always wanted to be ordained as a Church of Ireland clergyman and book goes on to detail how that ambition came to be achieved.

ID number(s): 1856073939 / 9781856073936

Chapters: Beginnings (1932-1941) — The Havergal (1941-1949) — Another world (Christmas 1942) — Moyaliffe (1942-1949) — Hens and eggs (1949-1951) — The Harding  (1951-1954) — The Mill and The Flat (1952-1961) — Trinity (1961-1966) — The States (1966-1967) — Stillorgan (1967-1972) — Drumcondra, North Strand (1972-1979) — Monkstown (1979- ).

WW Connection #1: Co-author, Patrick Semple, was one time rector of Donaghmore and Donard Parish.

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 co-author’s website:  http://www.patricksemple.ie/index.php

A Minister’s Life

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Full title: Believe it or not: a Memoir

Creator / Author: Patrick Semple

Item Type / Page count: Book / 180p

When Published: 2002

Publisher / Place of Publication: Columba Press / Dublin.

About: The first memoir of a Wexford-born former Church of Ireland clergyman who no longer believes the basic doctrines of the Christian faith.

ID number(s): 1856073548

Chapters: Wexford — No.4 National school — The King’s Hospital — All work and no play…  — TCD — Ordination — Belfast — St. John’s — Chicago — The Church of Ireland — Stradbally — The college and West Wicklow — Dublin again — Epilogue.

WW Connection #1: The author was one time rector of Donaghmore and Donard Parish.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #3: Link to Blog entry for the sequel to this item.

Extra #4: Link to the Author’s website http://www.patricksemple.ie/index.php

Minister For Sunny Weather

© The Publisher

Full title: The Rector Who Wouldn’t Pray For Rain: a Memoir

Creator / Author: Patrick Semple

Item Type / Page count: Book / 224p

When Published: 2007

Publisher / Place of Publication: Mercier Press / Douglas Village, Cork

About: A memoir of a Wexford-born former Church of Ireland clergyman who no longer believes the basic doctrines of the Christian faith.

ID number(s): 1856355608 / 9781856355605

Chapters: Preface — The town — Childhood — Boarding school — Vocation — University — The North — America — The Midlands — Adult education — West Wicklow — The chaplaincies — Looking on — The Church — Believe it or not — Epilogue.

WW Connection #1: The author was one time rector of Donaghmore and Donard Parish.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #3: Link to our Blog entry for the prequel to this item.

Extra #4: Link to the Author’s website: http://www.patricksemple.ie/index.php