Landmark new history of Westmeath launched

One of the most comprehensive books on the history of county Westmeath was launched in Athlone last week.

The 937-page book, ‘Westmeath: History and Society – interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish county’ was launched on Thursday night last in the Aidan Heavey Library by noted local historian Dr Harman Murtagh, a retired senior lecturer in law and Irish Studies at AIT and former President of the Old Athlone Society.

In his wide-ranging address, Dr Murtagh described the new publication as being “a very fine example of Irish book production” and was highly complimentary of the quality of the editing, design, typesetting and printing describing it as “outstanding.”

He was also highly complimentary of the book’s academic editor, Seamus O’Brien, who devoted ten years to the project. Dr Murtagh said Seamus had used “charm, patience, understanding and friendly urging” in his quest to complete the book and persuade 35 academic scholars to contribute to the ambitious undertaking.

‘Westmeath: History and Society’ is the 29th book in a series of county books which was the brainchild of Dr. Willie Nolan and his wife, Theresa, who came up with the idea of publishing a comprehensive history book for every county in Ireland.

Last week’s launch in Athlone was the second Westmeath launch for the massive history book, which was launched in the North Westmeath county town of Mullingar a week previously by the Archbishop of Dublin and Castletown Geoghegan native, Very Rev Dr Dermot Farrell. Dr Murtagh expressed the hope that the book would help to raise awareness of the “collective identity of Westmeath’s past” and consolidate the confidence of the public in Westmeath as “a particular, individual and special place – as our place – rather than a rump of Meath or a toehold in Roscommon.”

Whlle pointing out that this was “not a function” of the book, Dr Murtagh added that a common history is “one of the most potent forces that distinguishes a society and glues it together.”

During the course of his launch speech, Dr Murtagh described the history book as “without doubt, the greatest book every published on Westmeath” and said it was “a monument to our county’s culture, history, society and creativity” and said it was a fitting expression of the county’s “very distinctive identity.”

Urging everyone to acquire a copy, he said “if you have siblings, sons or daughters, uncles or aunts” who live outside Westmeath, it would make a great present “to recall their own roots, their own past.”

The publication of ‘Westmeath: History and Society’ was supported by Westmeath County Council’s Heritage Office and is available in bookshops or can be ordered at www.geographypublications.com. It retails for €60.