A new book 'That's the Way', a new book by Joe Prior, a native of Swanlinbar now living in Sligo, was launched in the Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell on Thursday night, by Marian Harkin M.E.P.
It gives a very honest, passionate, humorous and revealing account of growing up in the border village and is a social history of life in rural Ireland during the middle of the last century.
As people from all over Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Sligo and Leitrim gathered in the Shannon suite, Joe's son, John Paul, set the atmosphere for the evening as he tinkled the ivory keys with songs from the 50's such as Fats Domino's 'Blueberry Hill', Elvis Presley's 'Hound Dog' and 'All Shook Up' and Connie Frances's Carolina Moon'.
This was followed by a presentation on screen of the 80 or so photos, newspaper extracts and maps from the book.
Joe explained why he wrote the book. As he grew older, Joe explained he got a persistent urge to recreate in some way the world he knew as a child.
He came to realize that the 'Swads' were a bit special and that his village was once a very famous place.
It was a fashionable resort known as 'The Harrogate of Ireland' and according to the Postchaise Companion of 1786 was 'frequented by large concourses of the best families'.
Included amongst its many visitors were Henry Grattan, First Minister of the old Irish Parliament (Grattan's Parliament 1775-1800), Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), the great poet and historical novelist, and Dean Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels.
Joe's memories – and he has an extraordinary gift of recall – range over a wide spectrum; Gaelic football, the I.R.A,'s 'Operation Harvest' campaign of the late 50's, border smuggling, day-to-day life in a National school, outings to Enniskillen and Bundoran, the centrality of the Church and its rituals, fair days and elections, the advent of electricity and radio, the villagers' preoccupation with the weather etc.
He also includes affectionate portrayals of characters, both clerical and lay.
His accounts are interwoven with varied anecdotes and the accompanying photographs give it the stamp of authenticity. No doubt, this leisurely, nostalgic trip down 'Memory Lane' will evoke readers own childhood memories and have wide appeal.
Mary Kenny, well known author, journalist and broadcaster, had this to say about the book – ' Joe Prior has written an enchanting and valuable memoir of growing up in the 1940's and 50's, bringing with it a unique flavour of a time that some of us shared, and an Ireland that has gone, but is part of the deposit of our history and our culture. Here is the authentic voice of what I call 'real Ireland' and a treasury of memory, delight and thoughtfulness'.
This limited 168 page edition with its many photos, maps and newspaper extracts, printed and beautifully presented by Turner Print in Longford, is moderately priced at £16 or ¤20 and should be very popular as a Christmas present for anyone at home or abroad with an interest in how life was lived in rural Ireland during the late 40's, 50's or early 60's. It can be purchased at above prices in Enniskillen (Easons), Kinawley (Michael Curry's), Swanlinbar (Post office and O'Reilly's 'Stop and Shop'), Ballyconnell (Realta Bookshop) and in all main bookshops in Sligo, Cavan and Carrick-on-Shannon. It can also be purchased direct from the author, Joe Prior, Ben Aughlin Publications, 22, The Park Drive, Strandhill Rd., SLIGO for ¤23 or £18 (incl. p&p within Ireland and the U.K).
(Ph. 0876149135) (e-mail HYPERLINK "mailto:–thepriors@eircom.net" –thepriors@eircom.net).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Joe Prior was educated at Uragh Boys N.S., Swanlinbar, St. Patrick's College, Cavan, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and U.C.D. He taught in Sierra Leone, West Africa; Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim; Bundoran, Co. Donegal; and in Sligo town. He also worked as a Career Guidance Counsellor and finally as a Deputy Principal before retiring in 2002. He has a keen interest in local and social history.
Joe is a son of the late Johnny Prior, who drove G.N.R. and C.I.E. buses on the Cavan/Enniskillen route for over forty years before he retired in the early 70's. He carried many a schoolchild and many an employee of the Canadian Taylor Wood's factory (1949-1966) and Wellworth's store to and fro. During the war years, his bus was always packed, as petrol was unavailable for private motoring. Back then, he had to drive at night on parking lights, with passenger windows blanked out so as not to attract the attention of the German pilots. That's the way it was!
