Gorey to celebrate 400 years with new book

EARLIER this year, members of the North Wexford Historical Society formed the Gorey400 committee to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Gorey’s town charter.

To mark this date, the Gorey400 committee is currently working on a major book that will offer a readable and informative history of the town and the wider region.

Peter O’Connor, chairperson of the North Wexford Historical Society said they believe that a new publication on the history of Gorey and North Wexford is timely given the forthcoming 400th anniversary of the award of the town charter.

Peter said: ‘It provides an opportunity to tell the story of the area from the time of the first settlers to the present day, and to describe the various historical, social, cultural, and economic changes that have shaped the character of the area.

‘We are delighted that the Byrne-Perry Summer School and Gorey Municipal Council have joined us in supporting this project.’

Already a range of local and national authors have contributed to the project, which discusses many aspects of life in north Wexford.

Not only does the book cover ‘big’ topics such as 1798, the Famine, and the struggle for independence but it also delves into the personal stories of local men and women, such as artists and sports people, to chart the dramatic and often hidden history of the region and its inhabitants.

Apart from Gorey, towns and villages across north Wexford will find a home in the Gorey400 book, with sections on places such as Ferns and Courtown, and other surrounding districts. Other sections will discuss the region’s folklore, its agriculture, its architecture and its archaeology, along with chapters on many other topics.

The book’s editor is Ian Kenneally, an author and historian based in NUI Galway, who has previously edited publications such as ‘The Revolution Papers’. Professor Daniel Gahan, based in the University of Evansville, Indiana, is acting as Associate Editor.

Ultimately, the editor and committee hope that the publication will become a landmark of the Gorey400 celebrations and that it will have a long legacy for those wishing to read about the history, heritage, people, and stories of north Wexford.

The Gorey400 committee are looking for photos related to Gorey and North Wexford. The book will require hundreds of photos, so people are welcome to contact the committee with any images, or other documents, that they think might be of interest to the Gorey400 project for next year. Email the organising committee at gorey400book@gmail.com

The Gorey400 book is due to be released late summer 2019.