Words from West Wicklow (1)

© The Publisher

Full title: Co. Wicklow’s Way With Words: writings from students of Co. Wicklow V.E.C. Adult Education Service

Creator / Author: Co. Wicklow V.E.C. Adult Education Service

Item Type / Page count: Book / 101pp

When Published: 2004

Publisher / Place of Publication: Co. Wicklow V.E.C. Adult Education Service / Co. Wicklow

About: This first collection of writings by adult students from all over County Wicklow highlights the talents of people taking their first steps in creative writing and self-expression. The many short and ultra-short pieces included here feature a diversity of subject matter and opinions. Overall, the pieces provide a good snapshot of West Wicklow and its people.

ID number(s): None

Contents: [NOTE: Only West Wicklow authors are listed here] — Introduction

[Section One – All Kinds of Everything] Spring / Kathleen Jordan, Blessington — Summer Scenes / Michael O’Hara, Baltinglass — Autumn / Adeline Driver, Rathdangan — Wildlife Ponds / Bernard Byrne, Blessington — Embracing Change / Baltinglass Hospital Patients — My Home / Seamus Lennon, Baltinglass — Our Group Observations / The A Team, Baltinglass — My Walk in the Country / Mary O’Brien, Baltinglass

[Section Two – Reaching the Heights] Learning to Drive / Margaret Hewson, Blessington — The Mouse / Cynthia Steacy, Carnew — My Daughter, Katie and I / Sheila Doyle, Blessington — The Course / Elizabeth Moore, Blessington — How the Computer Revolutionised my Life / Betty Rawson, Carnew — A Little Change / Mary Manley, Blessington — The Expert Shows How it is Done!!! / James Haberlin, Baltinglass

[Section Three – Family Tales] Deep Thoughts / Alan Thomas, Donard — Summer 2003 / Margaret Hewson, Blessington — One Camera, Two Cameras, Three Cameras / Josephine Murphy, Rathdangan — The Wedding / Pamela Hanrahan, Blessington — Love at First Sight / Pamela Hanrahan, Blessington — A Christmas Past / Róisín, Blessington

[Section Four – Memories of Rural Ireland] The Threshing / Rosie Dunne, Blessington — Killing of the Pig / Betty Eager, Baltinglass — The Butter Making / Mary, Baltinglass — The Shop / Geraldine Rooney, Baltinglass — Summer Work / Anthony Mullen, Baltinglass — Childhood Memories of the Annual Sheep Shearing / Betty Byrne, Blessington

[Section Five – Animals Antics] The Feisty Sheep (poem) / Mary Osborne, Baltinglass — The Constipated Goldfish / Maureen Wilson, Rahtdangan — Jan / Bridget Birchall, Blessington

[Section Six – People] Trapped in my Mind! (poem) / Jason Wilson, Baltinglass — Remembering Danny / Catherine Noctor, Baltinglass — My Mother (poem) / Patricia Hosey, Grangecon — The Movie Director David Lean / Thomas Kehoe, Baltinglass — Nancy’s Dresser / Kathleen Osbourne, Blessington — Helen Parker / Ann Cullen, Grangecon — The Poncho / Brigid Brophy, Rathdangan — My Life / Teresa McCarrick, Carnew — Sonia O’Sullivan / Damien, Baltinglass — My Niece Ayla / Fiona Healy, Carnew — A Mother’s Love / Sheila Doyle, Blessington — My Grandmother / Phyllis Hamilton, Blessington

[Section 7 – Days to Remember] My Trip to Paris / Libby Hendrick, Carnew — Lighting the Flame / Eileen Moran, Carnew — Westlife / Michael Connolly, Carnew — Family Outing / James Byrne, Carnew — Going North / Paul Dollard, Carnew — Westlife 2004 / Robert Farrelly, Carnew — My Trip to Fatima / Paul Galvin, Baltinglass — My Favourite Holiday / Kathleen Moran, Carnew — My Trip to Cork / Bernie Redmond, Carnew — A Day at School / P. Coogan, Carnew — Winning is Good Too! / Claire Hayes & Shauna Bradley, Baltinglass — A Weekend Away / Enda Lawler, Baltinglass — A Family Holiday / Sean Kelly, Carnew — Opening my School / Joey Gilbert, Carnew

[Section 8 – Life as We Know It] My Life / Robert Ely, Baltinglasss — The In-between Years / Rosaleen McGrath, Baltinglass — My Retirement / Seamus Hunt, Baltinglass — Why I Returned to Learning / Patrick, Baltinglass — The Answering Machine (poem) / Maureen, Baltinglass — My Luck / Sheila Cullen, Baltinglass — Life (poem) / Rose O’Toole, Baltinglass — Vote Early! Vote Often / Esther Curry et al, Baltinglass Hospital

Extra #1: Search Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Taking Inspiration from Tomnafinnoge

© The Respective Contributors
Cover photo by Terence White

Full title: The Book of Tomnafinnoge: new writing inspired by Tomnafinnoge Oak Wood

Creator / Author: Sylvia Cullen (editor) and contributors, photographs by Terence White

Item Type / Page count: Book / 169pp

When Published: 2021

Publisher / Place of Publication: Courthouse Arts Centre / Tinahely, Co. Wicklow

About: This is a lovely hardbacked publication whose back cover blurb sums it up nicely: “an evocative collection of new writing, fiction and creative non-fiction, inspired by the last remaining fragment of ancient oak forest in South County Wicklow…….Intimate, celebratory, poignant as well as uplifting, this combination of prose and photographs brings the reader on a journey into the woods, revealing some of the wonders of the sylvan world of Tomnafinnoge”.

ID number(s): 9781739826307

Contents: A Word from the Editor

[Creative Non-Fiction] The Woodpecker in Tomnafinnoge Wood / Jerry Cassidy — Richard Behan: Head Forester for Coollattin Estate / Laurence Behan — A Walk in the Woods / Patrick O’Neill — Coill Thom Na Feannóige: a National Treasure / Eamonn Doran — Art in the Woods / Roisín Flood — Famine Emigration: from Tomnafinnoge to Wisconsin / Kevin Lee — Gifts of Tomnafinnoge / Susan Byrne

[Fiction] Mags / Liz McCollum-Ryan — Childhunt / Sylvia Cullen — Fairy Dancing Field God’s Truth / Bruce Copeland — The New Beginning / Annette Keating — Battle / Sylvia Cullen — The Cracking Twig / Gertrude Anne Doyle — Not Out of the Woods / Lucy Gahan — The Wood Stealer / Sylvia Cullen — Cernunnos / Alison McGuire — The Kid Ship / Sylvia Cullen — The Grass is Greener / Niall McKay

[Stories by Young People] The Hidden Tree / Libby Collins — Lost in the Woods / Aoibhe O’Leary — Mission Misneach / Maria Lancaster — Two Grumpy Old Sods / Rhys Davis — The Mystery of Tomnafinnoge / Shannon Perry — Into the Woods / Myron Davidson-Gahan

Contributors’ Biographies — About the Editor — Acknowledgements.

Extra #1: Illustrated throughout with colour photographs

Extra #2: Search Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #4: Link to the Publisher’s website: Courthouse Arts Centre

Thirty-Six Women Writing From Tinahely

© Wicklow Co.Co.

Full title: Red for Energy: new writing from County Wicklow

Creator / Author: Various authors, edited by Sylvia Cullen

Item Type / Page count: Book & CD / 178p

When Published: 2005

Publisher / Place of Publication: Wicklow County Council / Wicklow, Co. Wicklow

About: This is an anthology of work by women writers based in Tinahely and adjacent areas. It started out when the Tinahely Women’s Network suggested that its members should contribute a short piece to celebrate International Women’s Day 2004. It subsequently led to creative writing workshops and courses. This collection, by 36 different authors, represents the female perspective on some real life situations and on the realm of the imagination.

ID number(s): 0953390446

Contents: Foreword / Susan Byrne — Introduction / Sylvia Cullen — Memories / Margaret Synge – [Part one] Priestess for a Day / Eileen Moran — Flight 3853H / Deirdre Whelan, Sandra McCrea & Elaine McGlynn — The Homemaker / Marley Kavanagh — Red for Energy / Sylvia Cullen — Baps, Biscuits, Blisters and Boats / Maria Gillings — A Mother’s Love / Noreen Gorman — Fairy Cakes / Mary Dunne

[Part two] Goose Pimples / Barbara Rocks — Moving On / Marley Kavanagh — In the Beginning / Susan Byrne — Catherine’s Confession / Bree Greene — Low Finance / Theresa Leahy — November Wind / Tara Murphy — Fairies With Hooves / Rose Sharpe —  All About Einstein / Maggie Stewart — More than Cockles and Mussels / Dolores Cullen — Sonny / Irene Lundgaard

[Part three] Freedom / Mary Sheridan — Molly’s Christmas Tree / Breda Murphy — Motorcycle Musings / Brenda Barry — Reluctant Love / Ellen Fox-Lanigan — Spitting Image / Imelda Doody — Nora Magee / Anne O’Sullivan — A Day in the Life, A Life in the Day / Anne-Louise O’Donovan — Silent Life / Tina Christiansen — Titania’s Palace / Jane Twamley — A Second Chance / Jane Clarke

[Part four] My Trip to Allendale / Deirdre Kevin — A Busy Job / Fiona Healy — Helene Bachmann Isn’t Eating / Daria Santi — My Little Life / Jackie Woods

[Part five] Alone Again / Margaret Connors — Zodiacal Light / Sharon Corcoran — Crazy Love / Geraldine Freer — The Music from the Fields / Sylvia Cullen

[Part six Stories on CD] Maternal Strength / Irene Lundgaard — Guest of Honour / Dolores Cullen — Domestic Morning Epiphany / Maggie Stewart — The Auction / Bree Greene — A Journey / Susan Byrne — The Bockety One / Mary Dunne — Make Me An Offer! / Theresa Leahy — Afternoon Tea / Jane Clarke — Five Steps (Inside the Creche) I, II / Daria Santi — Red for Energy / Sylvia Cullen

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

Five Take Up Creative Writing

© The Authors from
The Snug at 7.30

Full title: Short Stories & Long Lies

Creator / Author: The Snug At 7.30 Writing Group

Item Type / Page count: Book / 101p

When Published: 2012

Publisher / Place of Publication: The Snug At 7.30 / [Not stated], Co. Wicklow

About: A collection of stories, poems, and history-based pieces by a group of five writers, collectively known as ‘The Snug at 7.30 Writing Group’. Deriving their name from the snug at Larry Egan’s pub in Parkbridge, the group came together following a creative writing course in Tinahely in 2010. This is their first collection which was launched at the Business Centre, Tinahely on 12^th May, 2012.

ID number(s): 9781471635748

Contents: Introduction and Foreword / Alison McGuire – Apples / Tara Quirke – The Lane Back Home / Thomas Clare – A Cold Woman / Alison McGuire – Eagle Hill / Robert Duffy – Raheengraney House / Jillian Godsil – Letting Go and Binding Fast [poem] / Jillian Godsil – I’d Almost Forgotten… / Thomas Clare – I’d Almost Forgotten… / Jillian Godsil – Not The Right Lipstick / Tara Quirke — The Interview / Robert Duffy — Simple Things / Alison McGuire – Some Very Alarming Things / Tara Quirke – The Winter of Life [poem]  / Thomas Clare – Journey (in loving memory of John Duffy 1930-2009) [poem] / Robert Duffy – Footsteps / Thomas Clare – The Wrong Girl / Alison McGuire – The Front Line / Robert Duffy – As I Lie Here in my Coffin / Jillian Godsil – Inheritance of Fear [poem]  / Alison McGuire – The Authors from The Snug.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #3: The cover photo features a wall hanging from Coolattin House.

Extra #4: Preview this book via Google Books

Thirteenth Baltinglass Parish Review

© (cover photo Nigel Gillis)

Full title: The Review 2016: a year in the life of Baltinglass, Bigstone, Grangecon and Stratford.

Creator / Author: Compiled by the Communications Sub-Group of St. Joseph’s Parish Pastoral Council, Editorial Board: Mary Hanlon, Bernie Doogue, Renee Wall…et al.

Item Type / Page count: Booklet / 98pp

When Published: 2016

Publisher / Place of Publication: St. Joseph’s Parish Baltinglass / Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow.

About: This is the thirteenth issue of an annual publication. Within its A4-sized format, it chronicles activities in the parish during the year, publishes short articles of general or historical interest and includes photographs past and present. Contemporary advertisements help to provide a snapshot of local economic activity.

ID number(s): None

Contents: A Word from the Parish Priest / Tommy Dillon – From the Editor / Mary Hanlon – The Gohery Schol of Irish Dancing perform at Disneyland Paris 2016 / Fiona Kavanagh – Bigstone National School / Mark Kavanagh and Aimee Kelly – Snapshot of life in a Greek refugee camp / Roisin Mangan – The Tea Room / Margaret Millikan – Celebrating 50 years of Martin Coleman at Quinns / Paddy O’Toole – West Wicklow Voices / Mary Hickson – Baltinglass Kayak Club – Scoil Chonglais 1916 Commemoration / Cillian Brophy – Carrigeen Montessori Retirement – Local Paralympian Ciara Staunton – Darkness into Light – Sonasámh Montessori School finds a permanent home – Charlie Byrne Soccer – The Year of Mercy / Mary Ryder – Cozy Corner Crafters – Baltinglass District Forum – Stratford National School and Grangecon National School Photo Gallery – Lalor Centre – Julia O’Neill’s visit to the G.P.O. – Our hidden hero, Mai Quaid – Baltinglass Youth Club – Refuge / Carol Coffey – Peter Keogh, R.I.P. – Stratford on Slaney National School’s Green School Journey / Debbie Frahill – Presentation to Burim – Stratford School revisited – Marie on Winning Streak / Marie O’Shea – Scintillating Scott wins European Bronze – [Photo Galleries] – Baltinglasss GAA Club – Bigstone Karate Club – Wedding Anniversaries – Grangecon Boxing Club 1978 [photo] – Weddings in Baltinglass Parish 1^st October 2015 to 30^th September 2016 – Baltinglass Further Education and Training Centre – opportunities for you in your community – Scoil Conglais Transition Year students begin their project with Tearmann Community Gardens – 1916 Celebrations in Baltinglass Hospital – Joan Colbert’s address in Baltinglass Hospital to mark the centenery of 1916 / Joan Colbert – World Day of Prayer / Aine Daly – Special olympics 2016 – Greetings – Baltinglass Men’s Shed – Active Retirement Network Ireland – Stratford  Grangecon G.A.A. Club – Four baptisms in one family / Catherine Fleming and Lena Doody-Byrne – Baptisms in Baltinglass Parish from 1st October 2015 to 1st October 2016 – – 1^st Communion and Confirmation [Photo Gallery] – Grangecon Village – How can I repay the Lord for His Goodness to me? / Sr. Brigid – Michael Russell – A wonderful year at Scoil Naomh Iosaf – Seachtar Fear an Éiri Amach [poem] / Bernie Donegan – Blessing of the animals Mass in Stratford / Elizabeth Thompson – Dúchas Project–down memory lane – Community Games – Conor O’Reilly-composer/conductor extraordinaire – Art Competition Winners –  Baltinglass Festival of Growth / Rev. Máirt Hanley – Haute Route for Nepal 2015 / Kieran Alcock – Pioneer Total Abstinance Society – Deaths in  Baltinglass Parish 1^st October 2015 to 30^th September 2016 – [Back Cover] The Pinnacle / photo by Chris Murray

Extra #1: Contains five full pages of photographs, not counting pictures included in individual articles.

The Young Man and the Sea

© The Publisher
(cover photo: Steven Rothfeld)

Full title: Close to The Water’s Edge [a short story]

Creator / Author: Claire Keegan

Item Type / Page count: Book Chapter / Short Story / 7p

When Published: 2010

Publisher / Place of Publication: Phoenix / Orion House, 5 Upper Saint Martin’s Lane, London WC2H 9EA United Kingdom.

Parent Publication [book]: Phoenix Irish Short Stories 2003 / edited by David Marcus / 213pp

About: The book which includes this short story, is an anthology of Irish short stories published annually. It features both new and established writers. Prior to its appearance in this book, this work by Claire Keegan had only previously appeared in the US edition of the author’s short story collection ‘Antartica’.

ID number(s):  0753817179

WW Connection #1: The author was born and raised in the border area of Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford.

Extra #1: Opening line:”Tonight he is out on the balcony, his dark tan stunning against the white of his dress shirt.”

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

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/

Another Stylish CK Story

© The Publisher

Full title: Foster [a novella]

Creator / Author: Claire Keegan

Item Type / Page count: Book / 89p

When Published: 2010

Publisher / Place of Publication: Faber and Faber Limited / Bloomsbury House, 74-77 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DA United Kingdom.

About: The Oxford English Dictionary defines a novella as “a short novel or a long short story” Following on from two previous collections of short stories that were published to critical acclaim, the author now takes an opportunity to experiment with a slightly longer form. In this work, she relates the story of a young girl who is taken to live with foster parents. Gradually, the girl settles in and becomes very happy with the new situation. However, a dark secret remains to be revealed. ‘Foster’ won the Davy Byrnes Award for 2009. It first appeared in the New Yorker magazine, but this edition presents a revised and expanded version.

ID number(s):  9780571255658

WW Connection #1: The author was born and raised in the border area of Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford.

Extra #1: Opening line: ”Early on a Sunday, after first Mass in Clonegal, my father, instead of taking me home, drives deep into Wexford towards the coast where my mother’s people come from…”

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #3: Link to reviews on Goodreads

Extra #4: Link to the Publisher’s website.

Extra #5: The screenplay of the prize-winning Irish-language film ‘An Cailín Ciúin’ (2022), is adapted from this book.

A Prizewinning Debut Collection

© The Publisher

Full title: Antarctica [short stories]

Creator / Author: Claire Keegan

Item Type / Page count: Book / 209p

When Published: 1999

Publisher / Place of Publication: Faber and Faber Limited / 3 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AU United Kingdom.

About: This is the author’s first collection of short stories and one that became the winner of the Rooney Prize for Literature for 2000. This annual prize is awarded for a body of work that the judges consider to have exceptional promise. The stories are set in the deep south of America and in Ireland, reflecting the author’s experience and assimilation of both environments. The stories were re-published as Book 14 in the Irish Independent Irish Women Writers Collection in 2007.

ID number(s):  9780571203468

Contents:  Acknowledgements — Antarctica — Love in the Tall Grass — Where the Water’s Deepest — The Ginger Rogers Sermon – Storms — The Singing Cashier — Burns — Quare Name for a Boy — Ride if You Dare — Men and Women — Sisters — A Scent of Winter — You Can’t Be Too Careful — The Burning Palms — Passport Soup.

WW Connection #1: The author was born and raised in the border area of Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #3: A review from Reading Matters

Extra #4: These stories have been translated into, and published in, several foreign languages.

A Classic Collection

© The Publisher

Full title: Walk the blue fields [short stories]

Creator / Author: Claire Keegan

Item Type / Page count: Book / 183p

When Published: 2007

Publisher / Place of Publication: Faber and Faber Limited / 3 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AU United Kingdom.

About: This is the author’s second collection of short stories and one that has received outstanding critical acclaim, including being chosen as the winner of the Edge Hill Prize for the Short Story 2008. The judges commented: “Her mastery of language and her full-blooded and flowing narratives impress on the reader a certain bleak and tender vision, which has much in common with that of the great Irish writer John McGahern. Yet it is distinctive, personal and modern. Her stories stand at the strong point where myth and reality intersect.”

The availability of certain stories and the order in which they appear differ depending on the edition.

ID number(s):  9780571233069 / 9780571233076 / 9780802170491

Contents: The long and painful death – The parting gift — Walk the blue fields — Dark horses — The forester’s daughter – Close to the water’s edge — Surrender — Night of the quicken trees.

WW Connection #1: The author was born and raised in the border area of Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #3: A review from the Dublin Review of Books

Extra #4: These stories have also been published in the USA and translated into several languages.