Acclaimed historian re-invents himself at hands-on woodwork classes in Offaly
Roscrea historian takes part in new hands-on woodwork classes run by environmentalist and carpenter Tom Roche in Rhode
ACCLAIMED Roscrea and Midlands historian and author, George Cunningham has taken on a new hobby at the tender age of 86.
George was the first person to sign up for the woodwork classes which are being hosted by Tom Roche, founder/coordinator of Just Forests.
The Rhode-based woodworker/educator is offering the course at his workshop on the outskirts of the north Offaly village.
George and Tom are old friends who both share a love of trees and wood.
They first crossed paths in September 1989 when George visited Tom's "Wood of Life" exhibition in Tullamore library.
George invited Tom to mount the exhibition in Roscrea library and following a successful run there it was put on display in all the major libraries in Tipperary.
Tom is excited to launch his new woodwork classes and delighted that George is his first student.
"Now is the time for people to re-invent themselves. . . by taking part in my creative course, would-be crafts people, will hopefully find their innermost creative potential again," he outlined.
In times of industrial stagnation and economic decline people have often had to fallback on their hand skills.
"While today Ireland is experiencing enormous economic development we are also seeing a huge decline in the numbers of youth taking up apprenticeships in the traditional wood trades. This is a shame really because I am particularly proud of my woodworking background as my craft has been my 'passport' to travel and work in many countries.
"Thousands of people all over Ireland have missed out on pursuing the very careers that they wanted due to a number of factors. For some it was the fear of dropping a [secure] pensionable job while for others it was family commitments. Whatever the reason thousands of people longed to do other work like pursuing their first love of maybe working with their hands as a craftsperson.
"Now is the time for people to re-invent themselves. I have just launched a hands-on furniture making/restoration/upcycling course with a difference.
" By taking part in my creative course, would-be crafts people, will hopefully find their innermost creative potential again", he stressed.
George Cunningham played a seminal role in the development of the very active south west midlands branch of Crann and hosted annual conferences in Mount St Joseph's Abbey, just outside the town, from 1987 onwards.
Despite his years, the retired Principal of Coolderry central school in south Offaly has just published his latest book, "Essays from Roscrea."
Published by Parkmore Press for Roscrea People it is a limited signed hardback volume of around 150 pages containing articles and essays written over a fifty-period by George.
Many have been unpublished and others have appeared in local limited booklets or were written for events or launches or as forewords or introductions.
They mainly cover the counties of Tipperary, Offaly and the Burren region of county Clare and embrace a wide range of topics from education to art, from landscape to history, biography and autobiography, heritage tourism and local studies.
‘Essays From Roscrea’ is the first in a series of Roscrea Record Memoirs. Hopefully others will deal with bibliography, Roscrea Heritage, Tree Notes and Travels and Public Service at the University of Limerick, 1992-2009.
Any profit from the publication will go towards the cost of the large monograph on Monaincha which hopefully will be published in the first half of 2027.
The cover art for ‘Essays From Roscrea’ is a painting of contemporary Roscrea in the mid 1970s by the late artists Mary Arrigan.
Copies of the new book may be purchased at Dimma Books, SVP, Roscrea and from Offaly History in Tullamore.
For more information about Tom Roche's new course visit www.tomroche.ie or email [email protected]