Elders of Clonmel book set to get a second outing

“It’s not just important to preserve history but to ensure that we have a record of living local history to hand on to the next generation,” says Shay Hurley, one of the Elders featured in Clonmel Applefest’s book Elders of Clonmel published last September.

Having featured in The Nationalist in recent weeks, the articles told stories and landmark events from the lives of older Clonmel citizens. Such has been the response to the book and articles, that Clonmel Applefest this week announced a follow-up book, Elders of Clonmel Part II, focusing on the professional and volunteering lives of prominent Clonmel Elders. to be launched on Thursday 26th September as the festival’s opening event.

After last year’s Elders of Clonmel project, community writer Eileen Heneghan said:
“It was a wonderful experience to participate as a writer. I loved it all and feel very grateful to have participated each year. I think the Elders were really heard and valued and that made a great impression upon them."
With a callout on Clonmel Applefest’s social media and website, 15 community writers are being sought to interview these older citizens. The selected writers will learn or finetune their interviewing, structuring and editing with journalist and memoir writer Kathy Donaghy.

With a wealth of experience teaching memoir and journalism, Kathy is an award-winning journalist who works as a freelance writer for the Irish Independent. Kathy has 30 years’ experience as a journalist and has been on the staff of the Irish Independent and RTÉ, as well as her work appearing in The Irish Times and The Sunday Business Post. Her memoir Finding My Wild was published in 2023.

The format has changed from last year with Kathy giving two evening masterclasses via Zoom rather than a full day as in previous years. There will also be two follow-up group sessions where excerpts of work in progress will be read out and constructive feedback given as well as support and advice as needed. Further details, guidelines for writers and expression of interest form are available on the festival website: https://www.clonmelapple fest.ie/project/elders-of -clonmel-part-ll with a 10th May deadline. Final editing and proofing will be once again in the capable hands of Rebecca Lenehan, who writes regularly for the Irish Country Living section of the Irish Farmers Journal.  Rebecca has coordinated many arts projects, including a memoir project and Artisans of Cashel for Cashel Arts Festival and last year's Elders of Clonmel for Clonmel Applefest.

Suggestions from readers for suitable candidates to interview are welcomed by Clonmel Applefest. With guidance from John D. Kelly and his profound knowledge of Clonmel and its people, Clonmel Applefest will make the final decision on the selection of Elders.

Clonmel Applefest is inviting members of the public to take part in this project as writers or propose a prominent Elder who has made a significant contribution to the economic and/or social life of the town. To get in touch or if you have any questions, you can email Rebecca at the project email here: eldersofclonmel@ gmail.com