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One of the many old photographs contained in the new book of Castlelyons local history which is being launched soon.

A year after the idea was first conceived, and following a lot of hard work, Castlelyons Community Council is ready to launch its comprehensive book on local history.

It was an idea for the Gathering 2013 that led to the project - one of the biggest the community council has ever undertaken. The group have been meeting every Wednesday night since last January. Having sent out detailed questionnaires to each house in the general Castlelyons parish area in March and collected them up a month later, the laborious task began of compiling the history of every occupied, derelict and demolished house in the locality.

"The result is astonishing, a 700-page book complete with details of the occupants of over 750 houses going back over 250 years with over 1200 photos," Donal Sheehan of the community council explains. Add to that the history of each townland, throw in some 20 articles on local history, a unique full colour map of the parish and its townlands and you get an idea of the scale of the task undertaken.

The name of the book is being kept under wraps until the launch night, Saturday, November 30. It was the result of a ballot by the editorial committee and was the final selection from 27 suggestions.

The size of the book means it lends itself best to a hardcover format. Priced at €25 a copy, it's a bargain, given how comprehensive it is and the amount of photographs it contains. LEADER funding from the Avondhu Blackwater Partnership has allowed the community council to keep the sale price down.

There's considerable interest already, with orders in from all over Ireland, the US, Australia and the UK.

"It's hoped that once the book is out there it will lead to many genealogy queries being answered," Donal Sheehan says. "It is also hoped that in time this publication will lead to people coming back to their original place of origin to see the homestead of their ancestors and in so doing generate some tourist revenue for our economy which is why 'The Gathering' was initiated in the first place," Donal points out.

The launch night will commence at 8.30pm in the community hall with tea and refreshments served on entry followed by the book launch with special guest Maurice Gubbins, editor of the Evening Echo, kindly doing the honours. Maurice's family are originally from the parish and his homestead is one of the over 750 houses documented.

The highlight will of course be the sale of this long-awaited book to the public which will take place on the night followed by a social evening where visitors can browse through the many photos, reminisce and share memories of past occupants and old parishioners that have long since passed on.

Entry is free and everyone is welcome to what will be a truly historic occasion.

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