New book fondly recalls everyday life in Carlow
Maria O'Rourke's new book Remembering Carlow
CARLOW author Maria O’Rourke has announced the launch of her new book , which captures everyday life in Carlow through the decades.
The social history book will be launched on Tuesday 5 November at 7pm in Carlow library.
paints a picture of a town called Carlow, which bears very little resemblance to the town by the same name which exists today. Having spoken to residents and businesspeople who lived and worked in the town from the 1940s onwards, Maria captured what everyday life was like through the decades ‒ a town full of small family businesses, shopkeepers, undertakers, publicans and a host of characters whom everyone knew by name.
It was a town where front doors were left open, where children played on the street and lots of families lived over their shop.
is not just a book which will delight all those with any connection to Carlow, it is also an important social history, which preserves the memories of Carlow people for generations to come.
As Canadian author LM Montgomery said ‘Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.’ The book will make an ideal Christmas present for Carlow people.
After a career in teaching spanning 30 years, Maria is now a dedicated writer, having completed a masters in creative writing at the University of Limerick.
She draws on her own experiences in personal, work and family life to bring out what is universal in each individual experience.
This is Maria’s second book. Her first, a novel entitled , was launched in March of this year and has proved extremely popular.
Well-known local writer and producer John MacKenna endorsed Maria’s new book, saying: “ is that most wonderful of things ‒ a book which is particular to a town, a time and those who lived there, but has that universal appeal of the human condition and experience. This is a book that says ‘my town, our town, any town, every town.’ It speaks with the voice of a generation.”
Maria explained the significance of her new book, saying: ‘‘My mother and grandmother always told stories of growing up in Carlow town, describing places and characters that are long gone. I’m proud to have preserved the memories of so many Carlow people in and hope it prompts reminiscences in all who read it.’’
