By Dan Walsh at Presentation Arts Centre, Enniscorthy
A new publication called The Lost and the Loved; A ramble through time, Enniscorthy 1963-2025 by Seán Whelan was officially launched before an overflowing attendance in the Presentation Arts Centre, Enniscorthy, earlier tonight.
The launch was postponed for two weeks because of severe weather, but it finally took place tonight with great enthusiasm. The turnout for Seán’s much-anticipated third publication was so large that, for health and safety reasons, many people missed the speeches.
Sean’s close friend and colleague from work at Echo Newspapers, Helen Ashdown officially launched the book, commending his extensive research and photographic work, and expressing admiration for his decision to share his experiences publicly.
Seán Whelan said; “This book is saying ‘a goodbye’ to what’s gone from us but
in a jolting way also brings, in its own right, those long-gone, once familiar but now half-forgotten people and places momentarily back to life.”
“The Lost and Loved is a small love letter of gratitude and admiration to my hometown and its people,” said the Bellefield bard, who added; “For that and for the joy that work on the book has given me personally, I can only say Thank You, Enniscorthy!
Tony McClean acted as master of ceremonies.
Seán’s book will be a favourite stocking filler this Christmas and will be revisited in homes for many Christmases to come – a sizeable chunk of pictorial nostalgia and memories.
It is a pictorial prose with 23 chapters and over 250 photographs and is packed with stories of people and places.
Born in 1947, Seán Whelan is a native of Enniscorthy, and worked as a general news and sports journalist with the Enniscorthy Echo from 1968 until it closed in June 2017.
This is Seán’s third book. His previous publications were Just a Memory/Wexford GAA Memories, 1884-1984 and The Ghosts of Bygone Days; An Enniscorthy GAA History by Seán Whelan (pub. 1998).
The Lost and the Loved; A ramble through time, Enniscorthy 1963-2025 by Seán Whelan, A4 size, lavishly illustrated, colour and black and white, Price €25, is available At Easons Bookshop, Court Street, Enniscorthy, Delaney’s, Rafter Street, Enniscorthy, and in all good bookshops.
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