Joe’s story about his duffle bag makes it into new RTE book
JOE McGowan from Mullaghmore is one of the featured contributors in the brand new book which is the latest installment of the National Treasures project that captured the nation’s imagination when it aired on RTE1 earlier this year.
Joe who brought along a Duffel Bag that he got when serving in the US Army to a National Treasures Roadshow in Galway is one of a select few individuals to be featured in the publication which is sure to be a top seller around the country this Christmas. Joe’s object reveals his story of emigration when he left Ireland in 1961 to start a new life in America. Joe was quickly enlisted into the US army during a time when involvement in the Vietnam war was at its height. Joe returned safe and eventually made his way back to Ireland bringing this object with him. It tells a familiar story for many Irish emigrants in the 1960’s who ended up being enlisted. The National Treasures project was a campaign to collect objects cherished by people and families that explore the history of the island of Ireland over the past 100 years.
With a foreword by RTÉ’s John Creedon, the book reveals a selection of 200 diverse and fascinating objects that were unearthed by the project and presents them alongside the owners and the personal stories attached. heart-warming and tragic.
tThe book is available in all good book shops and online at www.nationaltreasures.ie/shop