Michael honoured as 12th journal launched
THERE WAS great interest in this year’s Taghmon Journal as the hall in the GAA Club was packed to capacity for its launch.
The night also saw the announcing of the Person of the Year Award, which was presented to local theatre director Michael Stafford.
Mr Stafford, who learned stagecraft in Soho in London in 1962, was largely chosen for his role in the Camross Passion Play but his long service to amateur dramatics in the local area was also acknowledged.
Over the course of his involvement, he has won All Ireland titles as an actor, director and stage hand, with groups in Monamolin, Bunclody, Castlebridge and Camross.
The latest Taghmon Journal is the twelfth such offering by the group and it features a wide variety of articles about numerous aspects of local life.
John Whelan focuses on the history of Cromwell Cottage as well as writing a profile of Thomas Holme.
The late Tom McDonald has two articles included: ‘The Last Jottings’, and an article called ‘Gorgeous Hurling’ that focuses more on a court case than actual hurling!
Chairman of Taghmon Historical Society, Paddy O’Reilly focuses on the revival and fostering of GAA in the parish and also the history of Adamstown Vocational College.
An article from the Free Press from November 1968 outlines celebrations in Trinity Macra while Michael Doyle, who performed the launch, wrote about Camross Hall.
David William’s article ‘The Mardi gras Stuntman’ focuses on a 1978 incident when a stunt by John Condren went wrong and he fell to his death from the castle in Taghmon.
Finally, Tom Wickham and Conn McIntyre give an outline of the history of the journal. The latest journal was edited by Celestine Rafferty.
Refreshments were provided by Mary Kelly and were served after the launch.