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Last books remaining in bookshops now!
Mike Hackett, author and historian, is no stranger to the people of Youghal and East Cork, and his books have brought acclaim from far and wide.
Mike Hackett signs his book for Pat Joyce, Pauline Plante, Albert Ruxton and Agnes Kenefick
Known for his easy writing, his great knowledge of his book topics, and his love of all things Youghal. Some copies of Mike Hackett’s tenth book ‘Sars’ are still available to buy in most bookshops in Youghal and in Quinn’s Shop Ardmore. This is a limited edition and will not be reprinted. The book is sure to be sold out for Christmas, so purchase now for the few remaining.
All monies raised from the sale of ‘Sars’ will be donated to the Leukaemia Section of Cork University Hospital, which has a special place in Mike’s heart.
So, Mike Hackett’s tenth book is now on sale and by purchasing this great, heartwarming, funny, factual and enjoyable read, you will also be contributing to a most worthy charity.
Local author and historian Mike Hackett launched his latest book about the town on Fri. night 22nd Oct. 2010 at the GAA Pavilion. This is Mike’s 10th book and by far his favourite work. Mike started his latest book last February and felt that there was some aspects of the town that needed to be covered and Sarsfield Terrace was one of them. Help from residents of the terrace, like Kay Cronin, Maurice Ahern, Ann Tomlin, Fr. Donal Hussey to name but a few, wrote pieces for his book which is a compilation of anecdotes from residents living and former residents of ‘The Terrace’, Cork Hill and Windmill Hill.
Click on video to watch the nostalgic 8 min movie clip of Mike Hackett’s book launch
The book is basically a social history of the area with many photographs of great interest. Mary Ann Smyth was asked to launch the book being the Queen of the terrace. Aine Neville O’Donoghue, Kathleen Quinn and Peter Lee provided the entertainment to the packed house. Proceeds from the book go to the Leukemia section of the Mercy Hospital, Cork
Mike, accompanied by his wife Mary and family, was in great form and at home for the book launch, while his brother Martin was MC for the evening. Canon Tom Browne, Mayor of Youghal Mary Linehan Foley, Mary Anne Smyth spoke to the capacity crowds who turned up to thank Mike personally on his his magnificent book on magnificent people.
Large crowds turn up for the launch of Mike Hackett's book 'Sars'
Book available in most bookshops in town and in Quinn’s Shop Ardmore
Mike Hackett, author and historian, is no stranger to the people of Youghal and East Cork, and his books have brought acclaim from far and wide. Known for his easy writing, his great knowledge of his book topics, and his love of all things Youghal his popularity was in evidence on Saturday night last, October 23rd, when his tenth book ‘Sars’, was officially launched in the wonderful facility that is the GAA Club Aras. Between 300 and 400 people packed into the hall, all carrying ‘Sars’ under their arm, and all waiting expectantly for the official launch of the book, which honour was bestowed on the most senior citizen of Sarsfields Terrace, Mrs Mary Ann Smyth. Report: Denise FitzGerald | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com email: news@youghalonline.com
Mike Hackett signs his book for Pat Joyce, Pauline Plante, Albert Ruxton and Agnes Kenefick
Martin Hackett, brother of Mike’s, introduced the various guests which included Canon Tom Browne, Cllr Mary Lenihan Foley, Mayor of Youghal, and Mary Ann Smyth. The guests spoke eloquently about Mike and the Sars book, after which Mary Ann approached the podium to perform the launch. But first, she regaled the audience with various stories and events from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s about the residents of Sarsfields Terrace, What laughter and fun! There were stories about nappies being brought in from the rain by neighbours when the owner was out, and the house in a mess! Mention was made of ‘pinches of sugar’ being borrowed and returned; a gentleman finishing off the alcohol which had been bought and put aside for the same gentleman’s wake; racing pigeons belonging to eighteen different families in the Terrace who regularly flew to North of Ireland and back; heavy top coats being put on beds to keep them warm in winter time; and the mammies doing the rounds of the houses at Christmas time where glasses of wine (sherry in those days) were imbibed in each house causing consternation when they were trying to make their way home! Periwinkle picking was gone into in detail, and of course there were all those stories about the ’The Toppers’, ‘The Bottomers’ and ‘The Browns in between!’.
Large crowds attend the launch
Mary Ann went on to say that the most important thing was that when one neighbour was well of, then they all were; and when one neighbour was finding the going tough, then the rest of the neighbours did too. “Sharing was the lifeblood of these people in times which were more often hard than good, and none of the neighbours had anything more, or less, than the other.
Mary Anne Smyth and Canon Tom Browne PP
Mike Hackett, to his eternal credit, took over from Mary Ann and, difficult though it was to follow that act, he thanked everyone for their encouragement, support and input to his latest publication. He confirmed that there were at least twenty eight writers from Sarsfields Terrace and suurrnds who submitted stories to the book and this, he said, made the compiling of his book so much easier for him.
John O'Sullivan and his mother Mamie O'Sullivan aged 98 years. Mamie was born in 1912 and lived in Cork Hill
All monies raised from the sale of ‘Sars’ will be donated to the Leukaemia Section of Cork University Hospital, which has a special place in Mike’s heart.
So, Mike Hackett’s tenth book is now on sale and by purchasing this great, heartwarming, funny, factual and enjoyable read, you will also be contributing to a most worthy charity.
Someone once said that a good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you, and remains a friend. A good friend! Just like the Stars of ‘Sars’.
Click here to watch the nostalgia 8 min movie clip made by Michael Hussey for www.youghalonline.com
An important archive of historical photographs of Youghal and surrounding areas has been donated to Cork County Library and Arts Service and is being made accessible to the public for the first time in Youghal Library. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com
Anne McAuliffe, a descendant of Jim Horgan, at the exhibition
This important collection of nearly nine hundred photographs was made by various members of the Horgan family who for many years ran a successful photographic business in Youghal and who also operated one of the cinemas in the town. Reaching back to the 1890’s, the Horgan Collection is a unique and invaluable collection of photographs which records the landscape, streetscape and social history of Youghal into the twentieth century
Jim Horgan and child with early movie camera
Speaking to a very large gathering of people in Youghal Library at the launch of the collection on Thursday evening, Cork County Librarian, Ruth Flanagan thanked the members of the Horgan family for their generosity in making the entire collection available to the public through the Library Service. She noted that the Horgan collection is a priceless historical document that depicts the town of Youghal, the Blackwater river, Ardmore and many other areas and its importance for its representation of the social and commercial life in the area, through vivid images of maritime, agricultural, leisure and tourism activities.
Jim Horgan talked about the beginnings of the Horgan family involvement in photography and film and showed a series of images giving an overview of the extent of the collection. Frank Mills, Liam and Michael Coveney also spoke about the maritime heritage of Youghal and the Blackwater using photographs from the collection to illustrate their talks.
Standing- Ellen Kelly, Anne Marie Kenneally, Carmel Murphy and Marian O'Halloran from Youghal Library, Eileen O'Brien and Joseph Higgins from Library Headquarters, Ian McDonagh-Arts Officer C.C.C. and Christine O'Sullivan, Library Headquarters. Seated: Ruth Flanagan-County Librarian, Jim Horgan, Mayor of Youghal Sandra McLellan and Ikki Keane
In accepting this donation Cork County Council have preserved and conserved all of the images in the collection. These images have now been digitally recorded and will in due course be available for members of the public to view in Youghal Library
The collection is launched as part of National Heritage week celebrations. During the week a selection of photographic prints will be on view as well as continuous slideshow of digitised images on a public access computer.
For further information contact 021 546499 or email arts@corkcoco.ie
Click on image to see who was at the launch of the Horgan Collection
