A new comprehensive book on County Louth will be launched at County Hall in Dundalk at 7p.m. on Thursday 23rd November. Published by Geography Publications and edited by William Nolan (Emeritus Professor, UCD), it contains 900 pages and is richly illustrated.
The introductory foreword is by Paul Gosling, the Dundalk-born archaeologist. The book considers society and settlement from prehistory and the Early Christian Period. A number of essays explore Viking and Anglo-Norman Co. Louth including a chapter by Blackrock-man, Micheál McKeown on Castle Roche. There are a total of 33 chapters.
The construction of Dundalk Railway Station is covered and Conor Kenny’s history of selected Big Houses and their owners further illuminates dimensions of Co. Louth. Don Johnston, Ravensdale writes on the economic connections of Louth with Ulster in his essay on the linen industry about the Flurry River.
The development of local government from medieval to modern times are detailed. Political developments, from revolution and civil war to parliamentary politics, in the new state in the early twentieth century are by Donal Hall and constitutional politics during over the past fifty years are assessed by Caoilfhionn and Jim D’Arcy.
An essay on twentieth century drama and literature, by DkIT’s Fiona Fearon, considers the contribution of Louth natives, including Dorothy Macardle, Tomas Mac Anna and Paul Vincent Carroll, to Ireland’s literary culture in the twentieth century. DkIT’s Aoileann Ní Éigeartaigh explores Louth’s Gaelic literary heritage and Annaleigh Margey discusses the 1641 Rebellion. Seamus Bellew writes on medieval heraldry.
The County Archivist at Dundalk, Lorraine McCann, documents the rich resources of County Louth Archives. The book includes several chapters on aspects of Ardee and Drogheda and the county in general. The book will be launched by Professor Terry Dooley of Maynooth.
The book has been sponsored by the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society and Louth County Council. It will retail at €60 and will be available from Roe River Books or direct from the publisher Geography Publications, email: books@geographypublications.com
