The parochial pleasure of a 1912 Déise treasure
Monday, July 12, 2021
A three-leaf map which features in the Rev Patrick Power’s Parochial History of Waterford and Lismore, which was published by N Harvey & Co of Waterford in 1912.
HOLDING history – quite literally in the case of this story’s subject matter – is both a precious gift and great privilege.
With a deep green cover along with gold lettering and iconography, the ‘Parochial History of Waterford and Lismore During the 18th and 19th Centuries’ made for a welcome and entirely unexpected arrival on my desk as summer transitioned to autumn.
The childhood thrill reserved for a new Transformer thoughtfully delivered by Santa (Optimus Prime in particular when I was eight) is now increasingly reserved for stumbling upon old original works – as sure a sign as any of my ageing process. And in this particular case, I didn’t even accidentally stumble upon it. It was handed to me.