Trip down memory lane: Book recalls the heritage of Gortroe

“We are rooted in our heritage and its rich tapestry, and we seek to preserve it for future generations.”

Those are the words of Fidelma Coleman, a spokesperson for Gortroe Ladies’ Club, which has compiled a book on the heritage of the local area in North Cork.

The publication of Miscellany Of Gortroe And Its Environs: Tales Of Bygone Days helped the club become one of three community associations from across the country to receive a Special Recognition Award from Heritage Keepers.

A well-researched and informative work, it was compiled by a host of enthusiastic local authors.

“Our project was to compile a book of local history with a miscellany of articles significant to their local area - aimed to preserve local history so that generations to come could enjoy it,” says Fidelma.

“Each person involved took an area of local history to research and the club undertook a number of field trips as part of the project, including St Ita’s Nunnery in Limerick, the resting place of St Ita, who has many connections with Gortroe.”

Members of Gortroe Ladies’ Club are rooted in their heritage.

“The book is dedicated to all the members who for the last 20 years have supported each other in the vicissitudes of life,” says Fidelma.

The book is a fine example of interested parties who wish to delve into their heritage and who seek to leave a legacy of tales of bygone days and the history of the surroundings of Gortroe and its surroundings.

The local Catholic church and GAA club in Gortroe are named after St Ita. But who knew she was a Celtic princess?

Helen Barry tells us: “St Ita was a descendant of Hermon, King of Tara, and was born in Drum, County Waterford, on May 1, 476. The place of her birth is known today as Kilmeaden, or the Church of My Little Ita.”

Ita was a beautiful Celtic princess and was considered to be one of the most eligible noble women in the various kingdoms of Ireland.

She is viewed as the foster mother of the early Irish saints as her counsel was very much sought by luminaries including St Declan, St Finnian, St Luchtigern, St Maochoemog, and her nephew, St Pulcherius, as well as St Brendan, and her own blood sister, Fiona or St Eannaigh.

St Ita was brave. We read that “she fearlessly faced down the very influential druids with great vigour and might, freeing the people from slavery.”

Helen’s extensive research guides us through the life of the saint, who believed that the most important facets in life were true faith in God, and a pure heart. Also, a simple life with religious sprit, along with an open-handedness inspired by charity.

Helen takes us through St Ita’s dramatic warrior life, her religious life, and her strive to survive.

In time, Clonpriest National School and a community hall were built adjacent to St Ita’s church in Gortroe.

“The church, school, and community centre provide the nucleus of a close-knit community, all in the name of their protégé, Naomh Ita,” says Helen.

Reminiscing and chatting around the table prompted the content for much of the book, including the sections where we read about summer holidays spent thinning beet or saving hay.

If you were lucky, you would get a few days at the cousins’. “For holidays? Alas, not. For work, which could involve delivering bottles of tea from the farmhouse to the workers in the fields.

“Clothes were not as big a deal as today and you wore hand-me downs. You had one set of good clothes known as ‘Sunday Best’, and a weekday outfit.

“Communication was by letter, or the telegram was popular for happy and sad occasions.

“A postcard was a must for anyone who was lucky enough to get to an exciting place. This tailed off with the introduction of the telephone in the 1960s.”

Gatherings were the order of the day in Gortroe. It was common for the whole neighbourhood to visit a neighbour’s kitchen to watch All-Ireland finals. Social life consisted of dancing at the crossroads. Knockmonlea Cross was well-known for hosting these events.

People converged in Youghal on the coast.

The train ran from Cork to the town and it was very busy in the summertime, with up to 5,000 day-trippers arriving to enjoy the fresh sea air.

Traditions such as May Sunday saw people head to Killeagh for the festivities.

Redbarn dance hall was one of the better-known such venues in the country. All the best bands played there, including Joe Dolan, Jim Reeves, and The Dixies.

Reading about the halcyon days of Redbarn brings back a lot of fond memories to many people, and the showband era resonates with them.

There was no pub in Gortroe, and in any case, up to 1960 woman who went into a pub were frowned upon.

This particular section of the book is very entertaining and proves a great talking point among locals when discussing the book and its contents.

Other content in the book covers castles and bridges on the River Womonagh, The Great Famine, and Mass Paths.

The inclusion of Clonpriest Headstone inscriptions will interest a lot of readers, as will Clonpriest Old Cemetary headstone inscriptions.

“It will be a fantastic aid for people wishing to trace their family tree,” says Fidelma.

The Gortroe Ladies’ Club are still celebrating the fabulous night their book was launched by Michael Murphy UCC in the company of Cobh Animation Team. Song, poetry and music was the order of the day.

“More than 80 people attended the launch,” says Fidelma.

There was much to celebrate.

“Our group were honoured, humbled and ecstatic to win the Heritage Keepers’ Award Special Recognition Award.

“Our heritage runs so deep, and we’ve come so far celebrating that, from the beginning of the project.”

Miscellany Of Gortrue And Its Environs, by Gortroe Ladies Club, is currently in its second print and will be available in all local bookshops and newsagents.