POCKET BOOK ON VALENTIA
BARBARA O’Driscoll has compiled a very nice little booklet, entitled ‘ The Valentia Quest’ outlining descriptions of the many facets of Valentia life. It is an ideal reference and pocket book. She and her husband John own a holiday home in Donnybrook, Valentia.
Last Wednesday, a function took place at the Valentia Island Heritage Centre as Barbara and her husband John presented her publication as an item of sale for the benefit of the centre.
Anita Guiney, Chairperson of the Heritage Centre, introduced her and Barbara gave a most interesting talk.
Her book introduction reads: ‘I first came to Valentia Island in 1973, because my future husband wanted to show me Dohilla, where his father was born and grew up. Three years later we bought a cottage in Donnybrook. We have been blessed with wonderful and helpful neighbours, especially Pat and the late Mary O’Driscoll, whose hospitality and interest in the extended family knew no bounds... I decided to put together this little booklet to share my love of Valentia’
Of Polish ancestory, Barbara said she also sought to find out if Cracow on Valentia was named after the beautiful medieval city of Kraków. In her booklet she outlines two versions, referring first to Maurice O’Sullivan of Valentia who said his father spoke of a fire which burned a row of thatched cottages near Knightstown in the late 1800s. Somebody remarked that it was as big as a fire that had taken place in Kraków in 1850.
She also refers to ‘ The Scribe’, Liam Lynch, who reports that in the early 1900s a local known as Jerry ‘ The Doctor’ Murphy gave Cracow it’s name. While watching the locals salting mackerel in wooden barrels, Jerry remarked that there was more salt there than in Kraków.
Author’s note: Whichever version is true, isn’t it time that Cracow was twinned with Kraków in Poland?