Author Donal Ryan launches fourth 'Mining the Past' book

Local highly acclaimed author Donal Ryan, accompanied by his parents Donie and Anne Ryan, arrived in the Eagle' s Nest, Dolla, to a party like atmosphere.

The large attendance was in celebratory mode and deservedly so as Silvermines Historical Society prepared to launch their fourth historical journal – 'Mining the Past 2015/16'.

SHS Chairman John Kennedy welcomed everyone to the special occasion including Fr Brendan Moloney PP, Fr Jack Ryan, and Fr Nicholas Madden, who was visiting from Dublin for the occasion.  John thanked all those responsible for bringing this publication to print, most especially the contributors.
Michael O'Brien, chairman of the editing committee, then spoke briefly about the dedicated work of this small group and associates in getting the publication to the final stages which involved a lot of meetings but there was always time for ' tea and apple tart'.

John then introduced author Donal Ryan, thanking him for taking the time from a busy schedule to come to Silvermines.
“In some ways, Silvermines is my native place,” Donal said. After explaining that his maternal grandfather Bernard Sheary was born in Boultheeny, Donal began his address;
“Mining the Past Volume IV is a magnificent book, and part of a very important series of books. They form a living document, a precise yet nuanced record, created with care and love, of our collective past.  It explains to us who we are and where we came from. While the trappings of community diminish and retreat and in some cases, heartbreakingly, leave us altogether: the church and the Garda station and the post office and the local pub and shop, the core remains: people.”
Donal continued on the theme of the 'people' who are outlined within the pages of the new book – like “gentle genius, Martin Carey, who we see reciting his lines while milking his cows by hand”, and “Maura Ryan Lacken, a 'lucky child' , who became a teacher of teachers, a shopkeeper, a landlady and a pillar of this community”, and many more.

“It is also a book of 'stark contrasts',” he said, and among his examples of this was: “We see the cottiers' tiny homes on the grounds of Castle Otway. And the 'pleasure grounds' at Lissenhall House where the donkeys were fitted with leather socks so as not to disrupt the perfect grass.  Where  Zulu warriors were  set ' to dance and sing in a most extraordinary manner' on platforms for the amusement of guests at Master Hutchinson Carroll's birthday party. While a strike for higher wages by the workers of that house ended because' the cows had to be milked.”

On the theme of 'bravery' he cited some examples from the articles in the book including the Silvermines Environmental Action Group (SEAG) and the long hard battle they fought and won.
The “magic” of the Forge and James Egan's anvil, or the sugán being twisted “in the sweet smell of the meadow in the fading light of the day”.
Donal finished by telling us: “You are the custodians of our identity, perpetuating the memories of the characters and the events that shaped us, of our parents and grandparents, of the nature and soul of our people and our native place.”

Afterwards Donal's father, Donie Ryan entertained the audience with a rendition of the 'Trimmings of the Rosary' from 'Around the Boree Log and Other Verses'.  It was enjoyed by all and then tea was brought out to round up a very sociable event in the Eagle's Nest, Dolla.
'Mining the Past 2015/16', printed by Guardian Print & Design, is for sale in local books shops and priced at just €10. It will make a perfect gift for relatives far and near.