A FASCINATING new book about the history of Hacketstown will be launched tomorrow, Thursday 20 October, in Carlow Library.
Written by historian and retired teacher Jim Shannon, Hacketstown: a history covers life in the Co Carlow town throughout the ages, from the Neolithic period to the present day, covering every topic from archaeology, the Normans, the famine, revolutionary struggles and land wars to the poverty of the 1930s, sport and religion.
James P Shannon, better known as Jim, is a native of Hacketstown and lives there with his wife Mary. Jim taught history in Presentation De la Salle College, Bagenalstown until he retired in 2006.
A fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of Hacketstown, and indeed Co Carlow, Jim writes with an easy and accessible style, pulling the reader into an impeccably-researched and comprehensive history of East Carlow. A must for anyone interested in local history in Co Carlow, Hacketstown: a history is a publication of huge importance, chronicling life through the ages of an area of the county under-represented in print until now.
The book is a result of years research and writing. After his retirement from teaching, Jim divided his spare time between playing bridge and researching the history of the Hacketstown area, publishing several articles on this topic in Carloviana over the years. An active member of the Carlow Historical and Archaeological Society (CHAS), Jim served as president of the society from 2006 to 2009 and edited Carloviana, the society’s annual journal, for several years. Still serving on the society’s committee of management and as a member of the editorial sub-committee, he was awarded honorary life membership of the society in June, in recognition of his services to the promotion of local history.
Hacketstown: a history will be launched by county librarian John Shortall on Thursday 20 October at 7.30pm.
By Elizabeth Lee https://carlow-nationalist.ie/2022/10/19/book-about-history-of-hacketstown-to-be-launched-this-week/
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