The launch of the book ‘Blackwater and Bride: navigation and trade 7000 BC to 2007′ attracted a sizable audience who filled the big function room of the Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal By Denise Fitzgerald/Photo Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

The audience came from many places along the two rivers like Ballyduff, Lismore, Cappoquin, Tallow and Youghal reflecting the local history of these places that are within the book. They were joined by people from Dungarvan, Wexford and Cork including a descendant of Captain Roberts of the Sirius fame.Written by Ballyduff man Niall O’Brien, the book impressed the attendees with its size and scholarly content, coupled with a delightful easy read. Kieran Heffernan, one of the guest speakers, said that “each of the fifteen chapters were a complete short story in their own right while combining to make a fascinating account of an unwritten history”.

A large complement of illustrations adds to the delight of its written pages. As do the personal stories of people trying to shoot rabbits with a Lewis machine gun, the Villierstown ferry and the French visitors, along with the lightermen from Youghal who stayed overnight in Clashmore.
This is Niall O’Brien’s first book and he said that he was delighted with its reception. “There is great interest in the book”, said Niall “and sales in the shops are going briskly. A number of attempts were made by others to write this remarkable story and it’s great to have the delightful opportunity to see the finished product going so well”.

David Kelly, another guest speaker, said that the book “opens the history of our local place in a fresh new light and will stand as a treasured possession in any home. The six years of detailed research is displayed in every page, yet it has the common touch, which should bring enjoyment to every reader”.Many people who had lighters or who worked at the various river quays get a mention in the book, and many of their descendants were at the launch. The fine, comprehensive index of people and places at the back of ‘Blackwater and Bride: navigation and trade 7000 BC to 2007′ makes the joyful exploration of family history all the easier.

Among the attendees at the launch, was Michael O’Brien who travelled up both rivers in the merchant sailing vessels. Niall O’Brien said that he “was delighted that Michael could be with us tonight as a representative of all these sailors who went up both rivers in sailing vessels and local lighters”. Niall also thanked the many people who helped him over the years including the sponsors; the Heritage Council and Waterford County Council. Councillor Tom Higgins, mayor of County Waterford, spoke of how proud the council was to be associated with this fine publication.

Jimmy Horgan, who launched the book, talked about the varied kinds of shipbuilding on the Blackwater and then played lovely music which added greatly to the wonderful night.
Copies of the book are available at bookshops in Midleton, Dungarvan, Youghal, and Lismore plus at Ardmore Pottery in Ardmore. The book comes in ‘collector’s hardback’ format and retails at €25, making it an excellent, affordable gift. Few houses along both the Blackwater and Bride should be without this excellent publication.

Niall is a young farmer from Ballyduff on the border between Cork and Waterford near the banks of the Blackwater. He loves exploring local history because of a natural curiosity with the world we live in and the people who made it what it is. This book; “Blackwater and Bride: navigation and trade 7000 BC to 2007″ began as a proposed article in the Waterford Historical journal, “Decies” as so much had been written about navigation on the River Suir, Niall felt the need to balance the county with a piece on the Blackwater. The project quickly took on a life of its own and developed into a full book history of both the Blackwater and Bride as the only fitting way to recount this fascinating, untold story.
The book took over six years to complete as the author has no university or degree training as a historian and so had to learn on the job. Most of the manuscripts used to build the story were never used by any previous writer. This meant long hours were spent trying to understand what had occurred many decades before and apply that analysis to the book without bogging it down it technical detail.
Niall has over the past few years published articles in various county historical journals and is currently editor of the Ballyduff Historical Journal of which the first issue is due out in 2009.
Well done, Niall, on an extraordinary achievement.
By Denise Fitzgerald