The launch of Pat O'Sullivan’s latest book, The History and Folklore of The Big Tree Bar, took place recently at a very appropriate venue, The Big Tree, one of the best-known land-marks in the Bride Valley.

Pat is the author of many books and plays, he is also a well-known film-maker, his work reflects his love of his native place and its people. His most recent film was a tribute to Tom Cotter, Tom is an actor and singer of great talent.

This new publication takes us back on a journey through time, tracing the history of The Big Tree back to 1850 when the O'Callaghan family became the first proprietors; it soon became a stopping point for coaches coming from Cork on their way to Dublin via Lismore, over The Vee and into County Tipperary.

It was an ideal stopping place, providing accommodation for the travellers, and the nearby River Bride provided fresh water for the horses, and the tree which gives the pub its name was originally planted to give shade to the horses.

Pat learned much of the history of the Big Tree from his Aunt-in-law, the late Nellie Meaney, whose father, Dan Cronin, ran the premises until 1971, Pat also got many of his stories of the Aghern area from his late mother, Kitty. It was Nellie Meaney who told Pat about the morning that she provided breakfast for the late, great Fred Astaire, whose car, on the way from Lismore Castle to Cork Airport, had broken down outside The Big Tree.

Refreshed with Martins bread and a bottle of Beamish porter, Fred resumed his journey in a hackney car, provided by Pat Lee, the father of Pat Lee, so well known for his Annual Christmas swim of the Blackwater and his work in the community.

Another regular visitor to Nellie Meaney's house was the actor who will forever be associated with the film, The Picture of Dorian Grey, the late Hurd Hatfield, who lived at the time in Ballinterry House in Rathcormac. Another famous caller to Nellie's house was the actor, Frank Thornton who became famous as the imperious Captain Peacock in the TV series Are You Being Served, every year Nellie would receive a birthday card from Frank, as both their birthdays coincided. In later years the Big Tree hosted many famous musicians, including the Dubliners, Brendan Boyer and, a very young Rory Gallagher, at the start of a brilliant but very short career.

The area is known for its many sporting traditions, including horse-racing, tug-of-war, fishing, hurling, and bowling, in the book mentions many of the sportspeople from the Aghern and the surrounding countryside. The book is a historic document of Aghern and its people and it is enhanced by many photographs, in tracing the history of The Big Tree, from its first owners the O'Callaghans, then Riordans, Cronins, Meaneys, O'Flynns, Sheehans through to its current owners, the Barry family, Pat O'Sullivan has created a book to treasure.

Many hours of dedicated work went in to putting this book together, for Pat it was a labour of love to chronicle the history of his native place. The proceeds from the sale of the book will go to The Aghern Church and Graveyard Restoration Fund, special thanks go to Anthony and Associates and all their staff, the main sponsors of the book.

Pat O'Sullivan would like to thank everyone who helped him to compile the book, with special thanks to all who gave their time so freely and submitted photographs. The book was launched in The Big Tree by the former Cork footballer and hurler, Denis Walsh, himself a native of Ballynoe.

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