The Annals of Churchtown / Updated 26th May 2007

The Annals of Churchtown was launched in the Community Centre at 8.00pm on Saturday 10th December 2005. Almost 300 people attended and it was a wonderful night. Over 500 copies of "The Annals" have been sold to date.

Statistics relating to the book demonstrate the scale of the production. The Annals weighs just under 2 kilos and it includes 8 maps, details all 115 national monuments in the parish, includes 287 photographs and runs to 784 pages with 260,000 words.

The book which is published by the Churchtown Village Renewal Trust was compiled by Churchtown-reared Denis Hickey. Almost 60 local people contributed articles to the publication. The book also includes 12 historical essays, 300 pages of Churchtown-related dictionary entries, a large chronology of Churchtown, 80 pages of tables including various censuses, Griffith's Valuation and Tithe Applotment for Churchtown and a comprehensive glossary of Churchtown terms and expressions presented as Lingua Bruhenny.

The cover of the book includes supportive endorsements from Professor John A Murphy, Gay Byrne and Maeve Binchy who were shown drafts of the book. A quote is also provided by President Mary McAleese. Click here to read what these eminent have to say about our book.

Click here to see what President McAleese, Gay Byrne, Professor John A Murphy and Maeve Binchy have to say about The Annals of Churchtown.

Click here to read what Noel Linehan, Gerry Murphy and Denis Hickey had to say at the launch on 10.12.2005.

Click here to see some pictures from the launch.

The Annals of Churchtown has been produced by the Churchtown Village Renewal Trust as a not-for-profit service to the people of Churchtown. The Annals is priced at €20.

HOW TO GET A COPY OF THE ANNALS

Available in the following shops ...

Quikpick in Churchtown
Philip's Bookshop in Mallow

Buying by mail order ... please click here to email your requirements ...

Posting abroad costs €14 ...

THE ANNALS OF CHURCHTOWN / CONTENTS

Foreword
Acknowledgements
The townlands of Churchtown (map)

Part 1: Chronology, Dictionary and Tables

1.1 A Chronology of Churchtown compiled by Denis J. Hickey
1.2 A Dictionary of Churchtown compiled by Denis J. Hickey
1.3 Tithe Applotment and Census by townland compiled by Denis J. Hickey
1.4 Griffith's Valuation 1851 by townland compiled by Denis J. Hickey

Part 2: Physical Heritage

2.1 Archaeological inventory of Churchtown extracted by Niamh Murphy
2.2 An introduction to the ecology of Churchtown by Aisling O'Sullivan and Jane Hennessy
2.3 The Churchtown Trails by Gerry Murphy

Part 3: Language and Music

3.1 Lingua Bruhenny: A Dictionary of Churchtown words and expressions
compiled by Denis J. Hickey and Gerry Murphy
3.2 A Community Entertainment by Colette Moloney

Part 4: Essays of historical interest

4.1 Three centuries of Churchtown history by Caroline Hennessy
4.2 John 'Boss' Murphy, 1875-1955 by Colette Moloney
4.3 The Cillín by Noel Linehan
4.4 Bruhenny in a Golden Light by Albert Daly
4.5 Walshestown and the Conron family by Jim McCarthy
4.6 Biddy's Tree and Máire Ní Ruairí by Ruairí Ó Hicí
4.7 The Boss Murphy Story, 1997-2003 from www.boss-murphys.com
4.8 Cider-making in Churchtown by Noel Linehan
4.9 The Rebuilding of Churchtown village by Jim McCarthy
4.10 Churchtown's Horse Racing Heritage by Jack Murphy
4.11 A Village Renewal by Vincent Wall
4.12 The Millennium Visit of the President from www.churchtown.net

Part 5: Irish Folklore Commission, Scéim na Scoile 1937

5.1 Athleticism, strength and endurance
5.2 Birds
5.3 Butter-making
5.4 Cures
5.5 Candle-making
5.6 Children's games
5.7 Children's verse for games
5.8 Clothes
5.9 Education
5.10 The Fair
5.11 Fire
5.12 Flour-making
5.13 Food
5.14 Footwear
5.15 Fool's Day, 1st of April
5.16 Games: Scoubeen
5.17 Ghostly tales
5.18 Graveyards
5.19 Halloween
5.20 Home-made toys
5.21 Legend of the New Barn
5.22 Light
5.23 Marriage
5.24 Musician James O'Callaghan
5.25 Owen Roe O'Sullivan in Churchtown
5.26 Proverbs
5.27 Riddles
5.28 St Brigid's Well
5.29 St John's Eve
5.30 Stepdancers
5.31 Superstitions
5.32 Topographical matters
5.33 Travelling folk
5.34 Weather extremes
5.35 Signs of bad weather
5.36 Weather lore
5.37 Wren Boys

Part 6: Images of Churchtown

This section runs to 64 pages and includes over 280 pictures.

6.1 Welcome
6.2 Parish scenes
6.3 Bridges
6.4 Buildings
6.5 Burton House
6.6 Church and graveyard - St Nicholas' Church
6.7 Church and graveyard - Bruhenny & Maryfield
6.8 Community Centre
6.9 Creamery
6.10 Haymaking and threshing
6.11 GAA
6.12 Historical material
6.13 Kilgrogan graveyard
6.14 Horses
6.15 Muintir na Tíre
6.16 Boss Murphy's, 1997-2003
6.17 Pearson painting
6.18 People and events
6.19 Renewal and construction, 1996-2005
6.20 School
6.21 Presidential Visit
6.22 Farewell

Part 7: Memories

7.1 Churchtown School in the 1920s by Bill O'Flynn
7.2 The Titanic tragedy and the loss of our Aunt Bridget by Densy Egan
7.3 Teenage years in the Churchtown of the 1930s and '40s by Mick Howard
7.4 St Brigid's Well and the Moanroe by Jim McCarthy
7.5 Memories of a stud farm by Densy Egan
7.6 Looking back in time by Mick 'Hassett' Egan
7.7 The townland of Ballynamuck by Paddy McMahon
7.8 Memories of Churchtown, 1924-1953 by Brigid (Manning) O'Sullivan
7.9 Summer at lovely Annagh Bridge in the 1950s by Anne Murphy
7.10 Memories of Churchtown in the 1950s by Anne Murphy
7.11 Schooldays in the 1940s and '50s by Denis J. Hickey
7.12 The homecoming of 'Cottage Rake' by John Browne
7.13 My memories of Churchtown by Patricia Lancaster
7.14 My holidays in Churchtown by Margaret Toppin
7.15 Recollections by Bridie Hawe
7.16 Churchtown Creamery by Bill O'Flynn
7.17 Holding back the years by Denis Pat Costelloe
7.18 Reflections by Denis O'Leary
7.19 We were happy with what we had by Denny Egan
7.20 A day's shooting and other recollections by Paddy Fitzpatrick
7.21 The townland of Clashelane by Frank Guiney
7.22 The Imogane Road by Mary Twomey
7.23 The late Jimmy O'Sullivan by Mary O'Sullivan
7.24 Looking back by Paddy Lane
7.25 Life as I see it by John Coghlan
7.26 Working in Ballybeg Quarry by John Quinn
7.27 My hinterland by John Thompson
7.28 The Crab Stock by Kitty Fitzgerald
7.29 Carrigeen in bygone days by Mary Corkery
7.30 Times past by Eddie Galligan
7.31 A stone to mark the spot by Edward Flannery
7.32 My schooldays by Myra Aherne
7.33 Days of yore by Ned O Sullivan
7.34 My sister Nora and the fiddle by Mollie Collins
7.35 Recollections by Mary O'Connor
7.36 The old days by Matt O'Callaghan
7.37 A glimpse into the past by Peg O'Sullivan
7.38 Days that are gone by Sheila Fitzpatrick
7.39 Looking back through the years by Margaret McAuliffe
7.40 Recollections by Maurice Daly
7.41 Recollections and a truly unforgettable experience by Willie Joe Condon
7.42 Denny 'Booney' O'Sullivan and Paddy Flaherty by Denis J. Hickey
7.43 Random thoughts by Noel Linehan
7.44 Denny 'Booney' O'Sullivan and a very special sick call by Denis J. Hickey
7.45 'King Spider' by Denis J. Hickey
7.46 Jack Hickey, a 'cement tree' and a surprising sequel by Denis J. Hickey
7.47 Forget not the horse and his four-legged friends by Noel Linehan
7.48 Christmas time in Churchtown by Denis J. Hickey
7.49 The Horse Harness by Noel Linehan
7.50 Christy Stack's eventful journey to Buttevant by Pat O'Brien
7.51 An exile returns and reflects by Sister Bridget Linehan
7.52 Back to my roots by Denis Pat Costelloe
7.53 For whom the Banshee cries by Noel Linehan
7.54 Bill Hickey tastes the milk of human kindness by David Hickey
7.55 Troubled Times by Mick O'Keeffe
7.56 Ours was a music house by Hannah Hawe
7.57 A Childhood Dream by Noel O'Brien
7.58 Memories by Rose O'Brien
7.59 Memories by Ellen Danaher
7.60 Memories by Margaret Cronin
7.61 Memories of Churchtown, 1954-1972 by Gerry Murphy
7.62 The Leaving of Churchtown by Denis Pat Costelloe

Part 8: Maps of Churchtown

8.1 County of Corke, c. 1685
8.2 Moland's Survey of Ballintemple, 1702
8.3 Map of Cork, c. 1720
8.4 Lewis' map, 1837
8.5 Churchtown Village, 1932
8.6 Parish and environs, OS Discovery series

Bibliography