Photo collection captures Muskerry during the 1980s

A new photo book which provides a fascinating insight into life in the Muskerry region from 1983 to 1989 has been published this week.

The 180-plus page ‘Muskerry through the Mac Suibhne Lens’ photographic collection features nostalgic images taken by local photographer Seán Mac Suibhne over that era. All proceeds of the book go to Macroom Tidy Towns’ Riverbank Project.

It includes GAA, soccer and basketball teams, images of local characters and sports stars as well as pictures taken in local schools, at election counts, musicals, of scouts and guides, social gatherings in parishes in the region, hunts, St Patrick’s Day parades and much more.

A brief synopsis of key local and national events compiled by Seán’s late wife, Máire Mac Suibhne, is also included, making the publication a social history of the mid-Cork area.

The fundraising publication, which is supported by the IRD Duhallow LEADER Programme, has taken over a year to compile and every cent raised will be ploughed into the Macroom Tidy Towns’ Riverbank Project. It is available in locations across the region, including Macroom Bookshop, The Mills Inn, Cill na Martra Post Office, Mai Fitz's, The Castle Hotel and Cooney’s Bookshop.

The entire €20 charged per book will help finance the widening of the pathway from the carpark at Macroom Bridge towards the woodland amenity area containing fairy garden, sensory garden and biodiversity plot.

Proceeds will also help fund the development of permanent seating in the area and the erection of a memorial to the men and women of the locality who perished along the riverbank as they were turned away from the workhouse during the Famine era.

It’s Seán Mac Suibhne’s first book of his own images. Seán paid tribute to his late wife, adding that this collection was all her idea. Seán and Máire worked as voluntary Editor and Photographic Editor of the Lee Valley Outlook for over 17 years.

“This was very much Máire’s project. It’s a publication we worked on together as a family for over a year. It’s heartbreaking that Máire is not here to see its publication and that we didn’t get to have an official launch. But we know she’s with us in spirit and we’re delighted to remember her and pay tribute to her in this book and to raise funds for such a worthy project which was so close to her heart. Máire loved books and was passionate about history. She loved Macroom and the Muskerry region and both will benefit from this publication,” he said.

Macroom Tidy Towns’ Committee Chairman and Cork County Councillor Martin Coughlan said updates will be provided on the Macroom Tidy Towns Facebook page.

“Macroom Tidy Towns was reactivated after a break back in 1983 and has been going strong ever since so it’s fitting that a photographic collection, that starts out from 1983 would help raise funds for one of our most ambitious projects.

“We’re urging people from across this region to buy this book and support a very worthy local project. The images are fascinating and several of the scenes captured will never be repeated. There are images from all over the region,” Cllr Coughlan added.