New book to celebrate 400 years of Bailieboro

The historic town of Bailieboro will be celebrating it"s 400th anniversary next year and various groups in the town are planning to showcase life, past and present, in the town with great innovation. John Ed Sheanon says it is planned to run a series of events throughout the year and they will represent each of the traditions in the town. A cross-community committee has been formed, which represents all the different facets of the development of the town that have evolved since its formation. This futuristic committee hopes to also use the celebrations next year to promote the town. 'We appreciate what the people that have gone before us have done to cultivate a unique way of life and the trojan work they put in to hand on this fine town to future generations,' said John Ed Sheanon. He added that it is important to instill in people to be proud of their place. One man is embarking on a superb idea by producing a complete pictorial record of the town in book form from the past 400 years. Leslie McKeague is endeavouring to make his new book as complete a pictorial record of the town and how life was lived there and the environs over the past 400 years. The book will be called Bailieboro"s Pictorial Past and Leslie informed The Anglo-Celt this week that he hopes to have it printed by September and have a launch in late October or November. He is working with all the local historians to ensure that the book comprehensively reflects the four centuries of life in the Bailieboro area. Leslie says the Willie Coleman collection of photographs should prove invaluable and of course Willie"s father was also a photographer. He has been in contact with the late Willie"s son in Dublin and he is graciously allowing access to this superb collection. Both father and son, both now deceased, are renowned and respected photographers from the area who chronicled the life and times of the Bailieboro community and its people. 'I scan in the photographs immediately and return them to the people who so kindly come forward with pictures. There will be extended captions with all the pictures and all relevant and interesting information will be included,' said Leslie. Pictures over the years have been included in various books and publications, but Leslie noted that it would be well worthwhile to include as many photographs as possible in one collection. Leslie is doing vast research together with numerous other people in the town. He has already turned up lots of photographs, which he had never seen before. If any readers have photographs at home which they think might add to the Leslie"s collection, you can contact Leslie at 042-9665790, or mobile 086-2588488, or email mckeague@aol.ie