Historical Society puts people in the picture with new publication

A TREASURE trove of old photographs from Killaloe and Ballina have been reprinted in a new publication produced by a local historical society.

Instead of producing The Journal, this year, the Killaloe Ballina Historical Society has created The Album.

Spanning 150 years from the 1840s to the 1990s, the publication contains more than 100 images of people and places in the Killaloe and Ballina area.

The only exception is an old engraving in St Flannan’s Cathedral from 1748 to show readers what this historical place of worship was like before the first tower was constructed.

The photographs are based on five main themes – the River Shannon, churches, schools, businesses and people.

It was designed and laid out by society secretary, Deborah Dudgeon, who pointed out people love looking at old photographs.

“We will probably do the Journal next year and another Album the following year. We have not got two forms of publication that we can alternate. When we publish five Albums, we could put them all together in a hardback.

“The Album will encourage people to provide more photographs to us. I think people now understand they don’t have to provide us with a commemorative photograph of a big event.

“It contains a photograph of when there was two-way traffic on Church Street. Carmel Doolan, whose mother was Maureen Collins, who lived on Royal Parade, took photographs of the erection of the green footbridge before the nearby apartments were built when the Royal Hotel was being knocked,” she said.

Society chairperson, Arlene White, who completed the proof reading of text and photographs, pointed newcomers to the area who wouldn’t have lived in the locality when the green pedestrian bridge was installed would appreciate these photographs as they could presume the bridge and nearby apartments were always there.

Back in the fifties, McKeogh’s was regarded as a huge local employer, employing up to 50 people in their premises.

In 1936, McKeogh’s Bakery won the second prize for having the best slice pan in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales at the Glasgow Exhibition.

A photograph of Madge Ryan in her own house back in the eighties sitting her near an open hearth fire with old pots and pans as well as a duty free bag is one just one image that sets the scene for what life was life for locals in this decade.

Residents in the twin communities will appreciate flashbacks to old festivals such as the Queen of the Shannon, which started in the mid eighties and was a forerunner to Féile Brian Ború, that started in 1993.

Dick Edmunds, who lives in the United States of America, posted a bundle of photographs including one of delighted Clare hurling fans placing the Saffron and Blue Banner flag on the top of the cathedral after their charges defeated Tipperary by the bare minimum in the 1997 All-Ireland senior hurling final.

A number of photographs of students in secondary schools were submitted by Sadie Scanlan, which will generate a lot of interest among locals.

The society was delighted to receive a great collection of photographs from Kevin Griffin following a talk he delivered for members a few years ago.

This is the society’s fourth publication following the completion of three Journals.

What was intended to be a once-off publication is now destined to be a series. Once the society started work compiling images for The Album, officers soon realised they couldn’t fit them all in. It is now destined to be a sister publication to The Journal. They are already looking forward to compiling Issue Two.

Paper costs have increased by 50% on last year but by choosing A4 format with stapled binding, and doing their own graphic design, the society are able to sell The Album for €12.

A lot of the 500 copies have already been sold in local shops or by post to exiles abroad.

Anyone who wants to purchase a copy online can email the society on killaloeballinalhs@gmail.com.