HERMITAGE’s history is chronicled once again in the latest publication by the Clare Roots Society.
Clare Roots Society, in conjunction with Gerry Woods and Paddy Lane have launched Hermitage Pictorial Parade. It commemorates the 75th anniversary of the first Hermitage residents receiving the keys of their homes in 1949.
This book will complement Joe Shannon’s previous book on Hermitage, published in March of this year. This new publication is a Pictorial Parade Book for Christmas consisting of over 400 photos with contributions from over 100 families.
Gerry Woods goes back to simpler times when recalling his childhood growing up in Old Mill Street and 110, Hermitage. He dedicates the book to past and present residents of the Tage.
Historian Ollie Byrnes includes an interview with the late Tony Kenny, a plasterer by trade. Tony recalls growing up in Ennis where we had seventeen bakeries in the 1930s. Ollie also remembers Michael Tierney, in particular a radio documentary on him by RTÉ. Michael (Miko) Ball’s long musical career is also remembered.
County dog warden Frankie Coote calls on all young people to listen while he tells of how Ennis used to be, with her narrow streets, old women wearing shawls, many well-loved characters and nicknames for one and all. He also includes an ode to Michael Tierney.
Flan Morrissey recalls his father relating to him, a tragic drowning event on the 7th August, 1932 at Lahinch. His father Patrick (Pappy) was awarded a medal by the Royal Humane Society for his lifesaving efforts that day. Unfortunately, two young men lost their lives.
Joe Moloney includes extracts from a letter written to him, by his uncle Michael, regarding his time growing up in the ‘Tage’.
Pat Maddox-White recalls her grandparents, John and Mary O’ Brien, who lived at 51, Hermitage while Jackie Coffey remembers Tommy Coffey and Maisie McMahon who lived at 56, Hermitage.
Michael (Mikey) Singleton is remembered with an appreciation, Josie Cronin is recalled in a ballad, Christy Murphy shares his memories of growing up in Hermitage, house number 68. The integral part the public phone box played in the lives of Hermitage residents is highlighted along with the special memories it left in the hearts and minds of young and old.
The following families have contributed photographs of their family for the book:
Ball, Best, Brigdale, Brohan, Browne, Burke, Callinan, Carpenter, Casey, Chandler, Chapman, Cleary, Clohessy, Coffey, Collins, Considine, Collins, Coote, Corbett, Corry, Cosgrove, Crewe, Cronin, Crowe, Cullinan, Cunningham, Daffy, Dilger, Dinan, Dobbyn, Duggan, Dunleavy, Fagan, Finn, Flaherty, Flynn, Fox, Frazer, Frawley, Gilligan, Grady, Guilfoyle, Guinnane, Guy, Hagger, Hanley, Hayes, Healey, Hehir, Higgins, Hogan, Houlihan, Keane, Kearney, Kenneally, Kenny, Kent, Kerin, Lane, Landy, McAllister, McNeill, Mahoney, McCarthy, McCormack, McDonagh, McEnery, Meany, Meere, Molloy, Moloney, Moore, Moroney, Morrissey, Mulqueen, Murphy, Nevin, Noonan, O’Brien, O’Callaghan, O’Connor, O’Grady, O’Loughlin, O’Shea, Piggott, Purtill, Queally, Quinn, Reddan, Reidy, Rice, Ryan, Scanlan, Sexton, Shannon, Sheridan, Singleton, Skerritt, Stack, Stewart, Summerly, Tierney, Treacy, White, Wilkie, Woods.
This is Clare Roots Society’s 42nd publication since 2012; it is Gerry Woods’ second collaboration with the Society. He previously completed a book on Old Mill Street, including Cornmarket, Considine’s Terrace and Old Cloughleigh, Ennis in 2021.
The book will be available from Ennis Book Shop in Abbey Street, O’Connors in Market Street and Heaslips in O’ Connell Street from Friday (December 1st).
