A new book that profiles the landscape, history, folklore and people of Ireland’s largest but least known mountain ranges will officially be launched by Minister of Defence Tony Killeen T.D. this evening.
‘Sliabh Aughty Ramble’ will be officially launched at The Mountshannon Hotel at 8.30pm. The 180-page, indexed publication features 120 illustrations and includes the first ever coloured index map of the region.
Sliabh Aughty covers over 250 square miles in East Clare and South Galway. The highest peak in the mountain range is Maghera which rises to 400m (1,314ft).
The book’s author Ger Madden, who also is Chairman of the Tuamgraney-based East Clare Heritage Centre, described the publication as a unique account of the region’s rich and varied history.
He said: “The book takes the form of a diary with an insert for each of the 365 days of the year. The inserts include information on the origins of local townland names, traditions, historic figures, folklore and fakelore stories, and poetry and other literary works relating to Sliabh Aughty.
Mr. Madden noted that the tourism potential of the Sliabh Aughty region has never been fully exploited, despite presenting a unique opportunity for enterprise creation and the economic regeneration of South Galway and East Clare.
“It is not promoted or referred to in tourism brochures and even the cartographers have on occasion omitted it from maps. This unique and beautiful landscape is waiting to be discovered by the discerning traveller”, explained the Scariff native.
“Sliabh Aughty boasts a spider’s web of boirins, paths and roads in one of the most scenic parts of Ireland. Poet Pádraig Colum noted in ‘An Old Woman’ that the roads of Sliabh Aughty, are neither graced ‘by house or bush’ only by ‘the crying wind and the lonesome hush.’ The full-colour, attached map with index will make the journey all the more pleasurable. Sliabh Aughty also hosts numerous megalithic burial tombs and is home to the poet Brian Merriman and Biddy Early, the Wise Woman of Clare.”
“I hope my book will highlight everything that the Sliabh Aughty region has to offer to both locals and visitors alike”, added Mr. Madden.
Commenting ahead of the book launch, Minister for Defence and Clare T.D. Tony Killeen underlined the importance of documenting regions of historic and cultural significance. Minister Killeen noted: “This book provides the most in-depth account of the Sliabh Aughty region ever produced. Gerard Madden has spent many years compiling information that will both enlighten and fasciate those who read it.”
“I come from the Burren region which is similar in many respects to Sliabh Aughty in terms of heritage, culture, tradition, landscape and people. I can understand how important this publication is regarding the promotion of the region. I would like to congratulate the author on his work and look forward to seeing an increase in visitor numbers to South Galway and East Clare as a result”, added Minister Killeen.
‘Sliabh Aughty Ramble - Musings on the folklore, history, landscape and literature of the region’ will be on sale at the Scéal Eile Books in Ennis and selected outlets throughout East Clare and South Galway, as well as at the Aughty Gathering in Gort on April 17th next.
Sliabh Aughty covers over 250 square miles in East Clare and South Galway. The highest peak in the mountain range is Maghera which rises to 400m (1,314ft).
The book’s author Ger Madden, who also is Chairman of the Tuamgraney-based East Clare Heritage Centre, described the publication as a unique account of the region’s rich and varied history.
He said: “The book takes the form of a diary with an insert for each of the 365 days of the year. The inserts include information on the origins of local townland names, traditions, historic figures, folklore and fakelore stories, and poetry and other literary works relating to Sliabh Aughty.
Mr. Madden noted that the tourism potential of the Sliabh Aughty region has never been fully exploited, despite presenting a unique opportunity for enterprise creation and the economic regeneration of South Galway and East Clare.
“It is not promoted or referred to in tourism brochures and even the cartographers have on occasion omitted it from maps. This unique and beautiful landscape is waiting to be discovered by the discerning traveller”, explained the Scariff native.
“Sliabh Aughty boasts a spider’s web of boirins, paths and roads in one of the most scenic parts of Ireland. Poet Pádraig Colum noted in ‘An Old Woman’ that the roads of Sliabh Aughty, are neither graced ‘by house or bush’ only by ‘the crying wind and the lonesome hush.’ The full-colour, attached map with index will make the journey all the more pleasurable. Sliabh Aughty also hosts numerous megalithic burial tombs and is home to the poet Brian Merriman and Biddy Early, the Wise Woman of Clare.”
“I hope my book will highlight everything that the Sliabh Aughty region has to offer to both locals and visitors alike”, added Mr. Madden.
Commenting ahead of the book launch, Minister for Defence and Clare T.D. Tony Killeen underlined the importance of documenting regions of historic and cultural significance. Minister Killeen noted: “This book provides the most in-depth account of the Sliabh Aughty region ever produced. Gerard Madden has spent many years compiling information that will both enlighten and fasciate those who read it.”
“I come from the Burren region which is similar in many respects to Sliabh Aughty in terms of heritage, culture, tradition, landscape and people. I can understand how important this publication is regarding the promotion of the region. I would like to congratulate the author on his work and look forward to seeing an increase in visitor numbers to South Galway and East Clare as a result”, added Minister Killeen.
‘Sliabh Aughty Ramble - Musings on the folklore, history, landscape and literature of the region’ will be on sale at the Scéal Eile Books in Ennis and selected outlets throughout East Clare and South Galway, as well as at the Aughty Gathering in Gort on April 17th next.
