Guaire Magazine is launched online

GUAIRE Magazine, the magazine that has celebrated the town of Gort and its environs for over 30 years since it was launched in 1978, is now available online.
“This is a hugely exciting development for all who grew up in Gort and particularly for those who no longer live there and can now freely access all the issues since 1978 and enjoy the memories that the magazine evokes,” claims Guaire editor, Mary O’Shaughnessy.
Last year, the committee decided to create the website and last week its work came to fruition with the launch of www.guaire.ie at a function in the Lady Gregory Hotel.
Putting 30 year’s worth of history and anecdotes online is not a small task and has been Mary’s main focus since she took over as editor last year. However, luckily, she did have some help.
“It took months to get it done as it was done on a voluntary basis and the most time-consuming element was scanning each page of each issue, painstakingly done by Bryan Brennan, who was the driving force behind the project along with his sister, Christine,” recalled Mary.
Mary believes the website will be especially useful for Gort people living away from home.
“I think the diaspora will find this particularly useful. At least that was the initial thought behind it, to make it available to those who have left the town but still have links here,” she told The Clare Champion.
Indeed, catering for those members of the Gort community no longer in the area was a huge motivator in deciding to go ahead with the online project.
“It was decided that the magazine needed to go online to make it available to those who grew up in Gort but no longer lived there. It is a very popular publication and will still come out hardcopy on an annual basis. The issue coming out at the end of this year will be available initially to buy online, as well as in local shops. Our plan is to put it up online when the following issue comes out,” Mary explained.
In 2008, the magazine celebrated its 30th birthday. During the past three decades, Guaire has reflected local, national and international events through the eyes of people from Gort and its hinterland. The next issue is due out towards the end of the year.