Documenting life in Killarney long ago

‘IN the Light of Other Days’ is an autobiography by Margaret O’Donoghue Sullivan that documents her rural childhood in Killarney. Journalist and broadcast Tom MacSweeney will launch Margaret’s book at Killarney Library on Thursday June 1 at 6.30pm. It’s free admission and all are welcome.

“Living near Killarney I felt it should be recorded in history the vast beauty of nature, the consolation, solace and stillness. One of the things people remarked on during my research was the noise and hurry of today’s world,” said Margaret.

Margaret published her book in November 2016 and it recalls the events of her childhood and details of the changing face of farming during the industrialisation of Ireland. The book is filled with the country’s rich history and infused with evocative poetry.

Margaret lived on the shore of Loughquittane Lake near Killarney and it is here that she first ‘shook hands’ with nature and life as it was then. Margaret also holds an honours degree in sociology from University College Cork.

“It lists the features of a nation surviving in the shadow of the famine, of times past.

“The book describes life for a small rural family at a simpler time in history. For anyone interested in the history of the country, this is an easy-to-absorb book of information, whilst also glimpsing what life was truly like,” Margaret added.