A new Laois Passport has been published to encourage adults and children, tourists and residents alike to explore the wonderful heritage sites of Laois this summer. The passport, produced in a collaboration between Laois Offaly Education and Training Board and Laois County Council with the support of the Heritage Council, details 7 of the heritage sites of Laois, with a space for a passport stamp each time a site is visted. Stamps are available at Timahoe Heritage Centre (and the Corner shop in Timahoe), Mountmellick Museum, Donaghmore Workhouse, Dunamaise Arts Centre and Portlaoise Tourist Ofice, Abbeyleix Heritage House and Emo Court.
Participants in the Laois Offaly ETB literacy project: Serena Fitzpatrick, Edel Phelan, Hilary Doran, Sabrina Bowden, Karla Jordan and Nicole Delaney with pupils from Scoil Bhríde, Portlaoise at Emo Court for the launch of the Laois Passport for Heritage Sites. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Passports are availble from each of the sites featured, and the Tourist Office in Portlaoise. They are also available for collection by primary school teachers at Laois Education Centre.
The passport grew out ‘Unravelling Laois’, a Portlaoise-based family learning project, which aimed to capture some of the hidden gems of the county. ‘Unravelling Laois’ started to unfold when a group of parents in Scoil Bhríde enabled their family learning project to take on a different dimension when they developed an interest in history. The DEIS funded programme, in collaboration with the HSCL in Scoil Bhride, Adult Literacy Service in Laois Offaly ETB supported these parents in visiting a range of historical sites in Laois during the autumn months of 2017.
Frances Byrne, Local Link Laois Offaly; Deirdre Delaney (HSCL Co-ordinator Scoil Bhríde Portlaoise); Denise Dunne (Creative Writing Tutor); Catherine Casey, (Laois Heritage Officer); Mary Delaney (Art Tutor) and Lisa McEvoy, (Laois Offaly ETB) at Emo Court for the launch of the Laois Passport for Heritage Sites. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Laois Offaly Local Link ensured that the group arrived at each destination safely and returned everybody to the school full of imagination. After each trip, the parents reflected on their adventures through artwork and creative writing. With the encouragement of their tutors, Denise Dunne and Mary Delaney, they have created art that illustrates their new understanding of the history of this county along with compiling a book through their own book club, that captures all their experiences throughout the project.
This inspirational project is family learning in its true sense, supporting parents to help their children learn and providing them with an opportunity to develop their own learning skills.
The project developed further and it was decided that the group would publish a passport at the end of their travels, for parents to use when bringing their children to each of the sites during the summer months. This passport was taken to the next level with the support of Catherine Casey, Laois Heritage Officer, and is available to all primary schools in Laois now and is also available from the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise Tourist and all the heritage sites the project visited.
OPW guide Joan Phelan stamping passports for Daniel Doran, Clodagh Fitzpatrick, Aaron Bowden-Adair, Eoin Bowden-Adair and Ryan Dunne from Scoil Bhride, Portlaoise at Emo Court for the launch of the Laois Passport for Heritage Sites. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Unravelling Laois will be exhibited in Emo Court for the summer. Drop in and don’t forget to collect your passport at reception or download it here – happy travels!
Notice of Proposed Development by a Local Authority. Planning and Development Act 2000 (As Amended) and Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (As Amended)
In accordance with Part XI, Section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, and Part VIII, Article 80 & 81 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 as amended, Laois County Council hereby gives notice of its intention to carry out the following development: Public realm enhancements at Fitzmaurice Place, Church Avenue, Church Street and Railway Street Portlaoise, to include landscaping, re-location of car parking, undergrounding of services, conservation and installation of public access to Fort Protector and all ancillary services.
There are a number of Protected Structures within the area where public realm works are to be implemented: RPS 468 Fort Protector, RPS 186a Old St Peter’s Church and RPS 186b Graveyard, Railway Street; RPS 951, 957 & 958 St Mary’s CBS School, Tower Hill; RPS 955 Former VEC, Tower Hill; RPS 959 Post box, Tower Hill; RPS No. 475 & 476: Former Presentation Convent & Tower, Church Avenue
Inspection
Plans and particulars of the proposed development are available for inspection during office hours from Tuesday 24th April 2018 to Thursday 7th June 2018 inclusive (excluding Bank and Public Holidays) at Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise or online at Fort Protector & Fitzmaurice Place Project. Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed development dealing with the proper planning and development of the area in which the development will be carried out may be made in writing to Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services, Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise to be received no later than 4.00pm on 21st June 2018.
Submissions should be clearly marked Fitzmaurice Place Public Realm Part VIII.
Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services, Roads, Planning, Economic Development & Emergency Services
Tel: 057 8664000, www.laois.ie
This project received funding under the Historic Towns Initiative 2018 which is a partnership between the Heritage Council and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Funding of €87,000 has been announced for the conservation of protected structures in County Laois. A total of 14 buildings were allocated funds through the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Structures at Risk Fund.
Both schemes are administered by Laois County Council, with funding from the Department for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. These grants have been awarded following assessments by local authorities, who accepted applications from members of the public and put recommended projects forward to the Minister for approval.
Mountmellick Town Hall has been awarded funding to continue conservation work started in 2017
Full details of all projects funded nationally are at the website of the DCHG.
Details of the schemes and projects funded in Laois are here.
Looking for something to keep the children calm during the mid-term, why not try one of our introduction to yoga sessions at your local library. These are free events but booking is essential, for more information click here.
2018 sees the continuation of the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s annual workshop programme, which has trained over 2,400 participants to date. This year the programme will be released in three phases: Spring, Summer and Winter with the current Spring workshop programme consisting of six workshops.
One workshop which will be of great local interest in Laois will be Squirrel and pine marten tracking (in conjunction with Abbeyleix Bog Project), on Saturday 10th March at Abbeyleix Heritage House & Abbeyleix Bog. The workshop is suitable for anyone with an interest in Ireland’s mammals, and costs €30.
After a brief introduction to the respective biology of both squirrels and pine martens, participants will learn of the latest research and conservation stories revolving around these mammals and how to survey them. This will be followed by an outdoor session where participants will have the opportunity to visit Abbeyleix Bog to see some of the surveying techniques and conservation enhancements described in the morning session.
Other workshops on offer this spring across the country include wetland birds, whales, dolphins & sharks and gardening for wildlife.
The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced that the very successful Built Heritage Investment Scheme and Structures at Risk Fund will operate again in 2018. The two schemes will provide a €3.3 million in investment in 2018 for the repair and conservation of protected structures. These schemes supported more than 500 projects across the country in 2017 and helped to provide employment in the conservation and construction industries.
Minister Humphreys said:
“This investment of €3.3 million in the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and Structures at Risk Fund will encourage the investment of private capital in small-scale, labour-intensive projects to repair and conserve historic structures. This will improve the appearance and structure of historic buildings across the country and will also support jobs in the conservation and construction industries.
“Well-maintained historic buildings contribute positively to the vitality of our cities, towns, villages and countryside. Local communities have a great sense of pride in their built heritage, which in turn can help to provide an important source of local employment by boosting tourism.
“Both schemes will operate on the same model as the 2017 schemes, which were a great success, funding over 500 projects across every local authority area in the country. They will help to regenerate urban and rural areas, and will come as a welcome boost to the custodians of heritage properties.”
House on the Square, Durrow, conserved with funding from the Built Heritage Investment Scheme in 2017
Scheme documents for 2018 available to date are below. Further details will be published when available.
Built Heritage Investment Scheme
All works carried out under the BHIS must be capital works. Full details of all requirements are in the Circular BHIS 18/1.
The BHIS will operate in 2018 with funding available to the amount of €2,000,000 nationally. The amount available to each Local Athority has not yet been published.
The total funding available for each individual project cannot exceed 50% of the total project cost.
The minimum funding available under the BHIS will be €2,500 up to a maximum grant of €15,000.
The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 31st January 2018.
All works carried out under the SRF must be capital works. Only structures or parts of structures in immediate danger of significant deterioration will qualify for consideration for funding.
The SRF will operate in 2018 with funding available to the amount of €1,324,000; €74,000 of which will be allocated for funding towards the type of house covered by An Action Plan for the Sustainable Future of the Irish Historic House, launched in 2015.
Due to the limited resources available for the operation of the scheme in 2018, DCHG will consider four applications per local authority, only one of which may be a publicly-owned building. A fifth application may be made if it relates to an Irish Historic House in private ownership.
The total funding available for each individual project shall not exceed 80% of the total project cost. The minimum funding available under the SRF will be €15,000 up to a maximum grant of €30,000. The minimum funding available for a fifth project in respect of a historic house in private ownership will be €5,000 up to a maximum of €10,000. The closing date for applications is 31st January 2018.
This year’s James Fintan Lalor School, organised by Laois Heritage Society, takes place at the Midlands Park Hotel Portlaoise, on Saturday 18th November.
Speakers include Diarmaid Ferriter, Jane Maxwell, Seamus Hosey, Claire O’Brien, David Norris, Patricia King, Kevin Myers, Marie Louise O’Donnell and Muiris O’ Suilleabhain.
Following the official opening of this year’s school by Charlie Flanagan, TD Minister for Justice and Equality, the day will include Panel Discussions on topics such as “Brexit: Our Identity, Our Future”, and “Ireland Today”, with an individual soapbox style presentations from Jane Maxwell and Kevin Myers.
Musical entertainment will be provided by members of Portlaoise and Mountmellick Comhaltas.
Audience participation will be encouraged throughout the day. When formal procedures are over a showing of the play “From the sod to the sky” by Mike Finn will be introduced by MC Kathleen Culliton.
The premiere of a newly commissioned musical piece on the theme of pollinators by Ian Wilson took place at Emo Court on Sunday 12th November 2017, as part of the Laois Leaves Literary Festival.
Titled “Thresholds”, this specially-commissioned 25-minute musical work for saxophonist and soundtrack will feature the voices of local people whose lives and work in some way have a positive impact on pollinators – we hear little snippets telling us about what they do for pollinators and how they do it.
Saxophist, Cathal Roche, performs the Premiere of a new musical piece in celebrations of Pollinators , at Emo Court on Sunday12th. Nov. during the Leaves Festival . Photo: Michael Scully.
The piece – which was commissioned by Laois Heritage Office and funded through the Creative Ireland programme – has also been recorded and the full work, composed by Ian Wilson and performed by saxophonist Cathal Roche is available to stream on Soundcloud.
Red-tailed bumble bee and common carder bee (John Breen/National Biodiversity Data Centre)
Also on the soundtrack are sounds of pollinators themselves as well as of their habitats, together evoking landscapes we are all familiar with and that we hope to preserve far into the future.
Composer , Ian Wison speaking at the Premiere of a new musical piece in celebrations of Pollinators , at Emo Court on Sunday12th. Nov. during the Leaves Festival . Photo: Michael Scully.
Ian has made recordings all over Laois for this work – in Portlaoise and in places like Emo Court, Abbeyleix Bog, Clonaslee and Dunamaise among others. The music both responds to what we hear on the soundtrack and provides a commentary on the various topics touched upon there. Saxophonist Cathal Roche is both a focal point for the audience and a kind of guide through the piece, knitting together the various speakers, sounds and ideas with his playing.
The event also featured readings by the winners of the Pollinator Poetry Prize, poetry to celebrate pollinators by adults and children, adjudicated by poet Anne Marie Ní Churráin.
Emer Rigney (Colaiste Naomh Cormaic ,Kilcormack ( winner in the 15 -14 years category) in the the Pollinators Poetry Competition , at Emo Court on Sunday12th. Nov. accepting her prise from Adjudicator, Annemarie Ni Chrrean , during the Leaves Festival . Photo: Michael Scully- njo reproduction fee.
The work is part of a joint project of Laois and Offaly Heritage Offices, with the support of the Creative Ireland programme and the National Biodiversity Data Centre. The premier event was part of the 2017 Laois Leaves Literary Festival, organised by Laois Arts Office.
A huge crowd of the local community, family members and military service people attended the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in honour of Sergeant John (Jack) Moyney in Rathdowney on Tuesday (12th September). The event, organised jointly by The Irish Guards, the Royal British Legion and Laois County Council, marked the centenary of the events for which Moyney won the Victoria Cross, during the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as the Battle of Passchendaele) in Belgium, during World War I.
On 12th & 13th September 1917, north of Broenbeek, Belgium, Lance-Sergeant Moyney was in command of 15 men. Surrounded by the enemy he held his post for 96 hours, having no water and very little food. On the fifth day, finding himself surrounded, he and Private Thomas Woodcock led the men in a charge through the enemy to safety. Private Woodcock, who was later killed in action at the Somme, also received a Victoria Cross.
The Rathdowney event commenced with a Parade of Standard of branches of the Royal British Legion, the Irish Guards Association, The Royal Air Force, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, and a National Colour Party, made up of representatives of the Irish Army bearing the National Flag.
National Colour party of the Irish army with parade of standards of the Royal British Legion and the Irish Guards (Photo Michael Scully)
The gathering was addressed by Ian Robertson of the Irish Guards Association Republic of Ireland Branch, who explained that the Victoria Cross paving stone being unveiled was donated by the British Government and is identical to one which will be unveiled to Jack Moyney along with other Irish winners of the Victoria Cross, in Glasnevin Cemetery in November this year. The British Government in donating the paving stones to Glasnevin also made a commitment to fund a second stone to be erected in a place of significance to the individual soldier, if there was sufficient local interest. The hundreds of people who attended the event in Rathdowney this week were certainly evidence of that local interest in Laois.
Ian Robertson of the Irish Guards Association with Rev Richard Seymour Whitley Rector of Rathdowney Group of Parish, who concelebrated the ecumenical service with Fr Martin Delaney PP (Photo Patrick Hugh Lynch)
Setting the scene, local historian Barbara Maher gave a moving account of life in Rathdowney in 1917, and read the names of the 40 young men from Rathdowney who enlisted during World War I. A quarter of these men did not return. Journalist Kevin Myers described the great input and impact of Irish born soldiers in the British Army during World War I and recalled interviewing Jack Moyney at his home on Roscrea in the 1970s. He described a modest man, who was nonetheless quietly proud of his contribution.
Cllr John King of Laois County Council with journalist Kevin Myers and local historian Barbara Maher (Photo Michael Scully)
An ecumenical service of remembrance was concelebrated by Fr Martin Delaney Parish Priest of Rathdowney and Rev Richard Seymour-Whiteley of Rathdowney Union of Parishes. Readings were by David Gibson-Brabazon, President of the Midland Counties and Kildare Branch of the Royal British Legion, and by Cllr. Padraig Fleming, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council.
The commemorative monument was unveiled by Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan and Cllr John King of Laois County Council. The monument was created by local craftsmen under the guidance of Cllr John King, and comprises the Victoria Cross paving stone and a plaque describing the actions of Jack Moyney and his later life. The Act of Remembrance by Colonel (Retired) Timothy Purdon OBE, Regimental Adjutant of the Irish Guards was followed by the Last Post and Reveille by a Bugler and a Lament on the Pipes.
The plaque was unveiled by Cllr John King of LCC and Minister Charlie Flanagan, Minister for Justice and Equality (Photo Patrick Hugh Lynch)
Jack Moyney had five children all now sadly deceased. Following research by Catherine Casey Heritage Officer with Laois County Council, with great assistance from Roscrea Heritage Society, contact was made with members of each of the branches of the family in Rathdowney, Roscrea and further afield. As a result representatives were present of the families of James Moyney, Alice Troy (nee Moyney), Elizabeth Ryan (nee Moyney), Mary Letsome-Moten (nee Moyney), and Bridget Maher (nee Moyney). Grand nephews and grand nieces from the Finane, Brown, Mullins, Campion and other families were also in attendance. Many of the family still live in Roscrea and Rathdowney, but others had travelled from across Ireland and the UK to attend the event.
Following the unveiling of the monument, John Moyney, Grandson of Jack Moyney, spoke movingly of his memories of his grandfather, on behalf of the wider Moyney Family. Despite the driving rain, the large crowd, which also included children from St Fergal’s College Rathdowney and each of the town’s two primary schools, remained in respectful attendance throughout. The ceremony ended with the laying of wreaths by the British Ambassador Robin Barnett, Minister Charlie Flanagan, and representatives of the Royal British Legion and the Irish Guards. Floral tributes were laid by each of the Five branches of the Moyney Family, by Cora Percival (Rathdowney), John Ryan (Roscrea), Emily Moyney (UK), Michael Maher (Kerry) and Catherine Grimes (UK).
Minister Charlie Flanagan lays a wreath on behalf of the Irish Government (Photo Michael Scully)
Closing the event on behalf of Laois County Council, Cllr John King thanked the organising committee Paul Stephenson (Royal British Legion), Ian Robertson (Irish Guards Association), Catherine Casey (Laois Heritage Office) and Angela McEvoy (Laois County Council).
Paul Stephenson (Royal British Legion Midland Counties and Kildare Branch), British Ambassador Robin Barnett and Cllr John King of Laois County Council
Pupils from St Fergal’s College Rathdowney with a representative of the Irish Guards and the Regimental Mascot, an Irish Wolfhound named Domhnall (Photo Michael Scully)
Representatives of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (Photo Patrick Hugh Lynch)
Ian Robertson (Irish Guards Association), Robin Barnett (British Ambassador to Ireland), Min Charlie Flanagan (Minister for Justice and Equality) (Photo Patrick Hugh Lynch)
Lowering of Regimental Standards during the lament (Photo Michael Scully)
Plaque to Jack Moyney VC with wreaths laid on behalf of the Irish Government, British Government, Irish Guards Association and Royal British Legion (Photo Patrick Hugh Lynch)
Funding has been announced for the conservation of protected structures in Laois, and nationally. Two schemes, administered by Laois County Council on behalf of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Rural, Regional and Gaeltacht Affairs will bring almost €150,000 in funding to 15 properties right across the county. A wide range of building types in Laois will benefit from funding this year, including thatched houses, old mills, churches, modest homes, and large country houses. Typical works to be funded under the scheme include roof repairs, structural consolidation and measures to ensure weather tightness.
Map showing the distribution of grants under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (Green) and Structures at Risk Fund (red) in Laois. Courtesy of Google maps.
Welcoming the funding announcement, John Mulholland, Chief Executive of Laois County Council said “Laois County Council is delighted to be involved in running these schemes, which bring a significant benefit to both the building owners, and the heritage of the county. This funding is also important as a support the construction sector in the region, particularly the specialist conservation skills involved in maintaining and repairing these buildings. I am particularly pleased to see funding allocated to two prominent buildings in the historic core of Portlaoise, which was the focus of the recently published Vision Statement. Building on the medieval core of the town will be an important element of developing a vibrant future for Portlaoise”.
St Peter’s Church of Ireland in Portlaoise benefitted from the Structures at Risk Fund in 2016 and has been awarded funding in 2017 to repair the historic boundary wall of the church.
At national level, €3.5 million is being made available under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and €1.3 million is being made available under the Structures at Risk Fund to allow for the conservation and repair of protected structures across the country. Minister Heather Humphreys said: “This investment will support the conservation of our heritage buildings and jobs in the conservation sector right across the country. The €4.8 million investment will leverage a further €11 million in private sector funds and will stimulate labour-intensive projects nationwide.
“Ireland’s heritage buildings and protected structures are a vital part of the infrastructure of our villages, towns, and cities. The Action Plan for Rural Development recognises the importance of investing in built heritage as a tool for rural regeneration and the economic recovery is allowing me to increase the level of funding available. Investing in our built heritage is not just good for the individual properties concerned, but can also provide a real boost to job creation in the construction, conservation and tourism sectors “.
Tidy Towns groups in Laois are being urged to enter a special award in the National Tidy Towns competition which promotes the protection of pollinators.
Irish bees and other pollinators contribute €35 million a year to the Irish economy by pollinating our plants, trees and vegetables. They are under serious threat for survival because they don’t have enough food to eat or places to live. In response to this, in 2016 Local Authority Heritage Officers and Biodiversity Officers, in partnership with the National Biodiversity Data Centre, launched a new Tidy Towns “Let’s Get Buzzing- Local Authority Pollinator Award”. This Special Award encourages Tidy Towns groups to support the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan by making their communities more pollinator-friendly. There is an attractive prize fund of €9,000.
Ann-Marie Kelly, Tidy Towns Co-ordinator with Laois County Council said “We hosted various events to promote the role of pollinators over the last few months and these were well attended. It is clear there is a huge interest in making Laois more pollinator friendly. The interest shown by our Tidy Towns committees illustrates their ongoing commitment to enhancing our natural environment. My colleagues and I are very happy to help groups become more pollinator friendly and build on our joint commitment on an annual basis.”
There was a great response to the award in 2016 with 58 Tidy Towns groups taking part. Monaghan Tidy Towns, national winner in the large town category, turned their town into an urban orchard, by encouraging residents to plant pollinator friendly fruit trees.
“Most pollinator actions are not costly or too complicated” explained Catherine Casey, Heritage Officer with Laois County Council. “They can range from simply changing the grass mowing regime, to planting pollinator friendly trees and shrubs, or raising awareness by promoting the Junior All-Ireland Pollinator Plan to youth groups and schools. Local communities can lead the way in creating an Ireland where pollinators can thrive”
The National Biodiversity Data Centre has produced practical guidelines to help communities and Tidy Towns groups to take action. The guidelines and other useful resources can be downloaded here.
The closing date for the award is 25th May 2017. Details and application forms are available to download below:
At a large gathering on Tuesday evening 13th December at Heritage House Abbeyleix, tragic events from the battle for the town during the Civil War were recalled by Comdt. Stephen Mac Eoin of Military Archives when Laois Heritage Office & the Laois 1916 centenary commemoration committee proudly launched a newly revised edition of Mike Rafters book “The Quiet County, towards a history of the Laois Brigade IRA and revolutionary activity in county 1913 – 1923”.
Cathaoirleach Tom Mulhall; Michael Rafter (author) and Comdt. Stephen Mac Eoin of Military Archives (who launched the book) at Heritage House, Abbeyleix for the 1916-2016 Commemoration launch of the book ‘The Quiet County’ by Michael Rafter. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ie
The event Comdt. Mac Eoin referred to was an eye-witness account of the shooting and death in the doorway of Heritage House (then a school house) of a young soldier named Christopher McGlynn further details of which can be found in the book.
The newly revised and updated book has been published as part of the Laois 2016 Centenary Programme, with funding from Ireland 2016. The driving force behind the project to reprint the book and also Laois Heritage Officer Catherine Casey acted as Master of Ceremonies for the evening, introducing Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Mr. Tom Mulhall, who gave a brief overview of events to commemorate the centenary of 1916 in the county.
Next, the author Mike Rafter spoke highlighting the importance of collecting photographs and memorabilia from the revolutionary years into a local archive and also thanked all the people who helped in anyway compiling the book.
Comdt. Stephen Mac Eoin who launched the book speaking at Heritage House, Abbeyleix for the 1916-2016 Commemoration launch of the book ‘The Quiet County’ by Michael Rafter. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ie
The book was launched by Comdt. Stephen Mac Eoin of Military Archives who outlined the work of the archives and gave an overview the Bureau of Military History files and Military Pension & Medal file collections used extensively by Mike Rafter in his research.
Finally, Manager of Heritage House, Paula Maher thanked all the speakers and invited them to continue their discussions over light refreshments.
The book is available at local book shops and newsagents from today.
Elaine Loughman, Jeremy Rafter and Kevin Rafter at Heritage House, Abbeyleix for the 1916-2016 Commemoration launch of the book ‘The Quiet County’ by Michael Rafter. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ie
Pat and Patsy Kirby with Michael Rafter at Heritage House, Abbeyleix for the 1916-2016 Commemoration launch of the book ‘The Quiet County’ by Michael Rafter. Patsy’s father Michael Gray features in the book. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ie
Michael, Ann, Emmet and Gabby Rafter at Heritage House, Abbeyleix for the 1916-2016 Commemoration launch of the book ‘The Quiet County’ by Michael Rafter. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ie
