Historic Ulster Churches. By Simon Walker. Institute of Irish Studies. £12.50 in UK.
Churches of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora. By Tom May. Thomas M. May £15
When it came to churches, at least one noted writer did not have great respect for them. Thomas Mann once said: "One ought to go to a funeral instead of to church when one feels the need of being uplifted". Although he was apparently writing about the atmosphere inside churches, he might find himself changing his opinion were he to visit some of the churches described in these two volumes. Here, from the simple to the sublime, are the histories of some 120 churches (all denominations) in the province of Ulster and of more than 170 Catholic churches in the western diocese. With an introduction on the development of Christianity in Ireland by historian, Jonathan Bardon, the Ulster volume provides a representative sample of historical periods and styles, all illustrated by fine monochrome photographs and line drawings. The second book is a simpler collection of brief histories, also illustrated (in colour), of all the Catholic churches in the named diocese. Both volumes also carry photos or drawings of church artifacts such as stained glass windows, monuments and other interior features.
Clogherhead Through the Years. By James Garry. Old Drogheda Society. £12
Memories from the Boyne. By Drogheda Local Voices. £12
Dealing as they do with Co Louth characters and events, these two books will be of interest mainly to residents of that area. The Clogherhead volume, a large-sized production on heavy paper, is a collection of historical items and photographs gleaned by the author from many sources, among them local people with long memories, local newspapers and specific archives. There is an emphasis, naturally, on matters maritime and ten pages of names from old school roll-books. The folk of Clogherhead will love this book.
Memories from the Boyne, on the other hand, is a history of Drogheda Rowing Club, the Boyne Regatta and Laytown Races (strictly, in Co Meath).
It is a compendium of interviews and records assembled by a community group which collects the stories of Drogheda and its people. The book relies heavily on club minute books and the recollections of members and there are many photographs that will appeal to most Drogheda people whether they are members of the Rowing Club or not.
Norman Kilcloon 1171-1700. By Gerard Rice. Kilcloon Jubilee Committee. £15
On the Banks of the Skane. Edited by John Donohoe. Kilmessan Dunsany 2000 Committee. £15
While these two books deal with two County Meath parishes, they differ totally in their treatment of the districts named. Gerard Rice's scholarly study, replete with footnotes, some fine colour illustrations and a useful map, deals with 600 years of the parish's history from the founding of the Norman manor of Kilcloon to the Williamite conquest and subsequent Penal laws. It is a colourful history, made most readable by a skilled writer who discovers and uncovers an astonishing amount of information about a comparatively small area. A small sans-serif typeface and tight binding make for some difficulty in exploring this book - but the effort will be worth it. The second, large-format volume is sub-titled A Millenium Memoir - Kilmessan and Dunsany and is essentially a miscellany of contributions from local people (named and anonymous), extracts from diocesan records and local newspapers and, last but not least, GAA and school records. There are 18 pages of headstone inscriptions from Kilmessan graveyard (a valuable resource) and the volume is laden with photographs of local people and places. These, of course, include Dunsany and Bective (and their illustrious residents) with proud references to their use as film sets for movies such as Braveheart, Captain Lightfoot and the forthcoming The Magnificent Ambersons, to name but three.
Newtownpark Avenue - its people and their houses. By Cornelius F. Smith. Albany Press. No price given
What could be more local than the history of a street - albeit an unusual street in a historic Dublin suburb? The author of this attractive hardback is a practised historian and knows how to make his subject readable.
Surprisingly, Newtownpark Avenue had a more than usual share of interesting residents; names such as Proby, Findlater, Pim, Lewis-Crosby, Perry, McGuire and Goodbody, all of whom, at one time or another,I nhabited the avenue's many fine mansions, feature in the book which is copiously illustrated. The story of the avenue is told through its inhabitants, chiefly the wealthy ones, and deals with the social and economic evolution of the place from earliest times to the 20th century. It is a fascinating tale and an examplar for other similar histories of streets, avenues, roads or whatever linear units that lend themselves to such treatment.
Richard Roche is a local historian, author and critic