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The official UK launch of Taking the Boat: The Irish in Leeds, 1931-81, a book which examines the Irish experience in Leeds, will take place in the in the Davitt Lounge of the Leeds Irish Centre, York Road, on Saturday 6th March at 7pm.
The book was written by Brendan McGowan, a native of Killala, Co. Mayo and examines the emigrant experience through the words of thirty-three men and women who left Ireland for post-war Leeds. Brendan states that "the use of oral history has enabled and empowered these emigrants to write their history from their own perspective and in their own words".
Brendan also highlights the special connection between Leeds and the West of Ireland: "The Leeds Irish community today numbers some 25,000 persons, the majority of whom trace their roots to the west of Ireland, and particularly to North Mayo." His own grandparents - Martin and Ellen Ferguson - emigrated from Attymass, Co. Mayo to Leeds in the 1940s, and ran the popular Regent Hotel (now Maguires) throughout the 1970s. His paternal grandparents settled in Leeds from Co. Donegal.
Commenting on the significance of the book, Patrick O'Sullivan, Head of the Irish Diaspora Research Unit, writes: "The Irish of Leeds, like the Irish of New York or Boston, now have their book. Brendan McGowan has given the Irish of Leeds their place in the research record - he has made a significant contribution to the research literature of the Irish Diaspora."
Taking the Boat is available in softback and limited edition hardback. It will be available from Leeds Irish Centre, and from all good bookstores in Leeds. It may also be acquired directly by contacting the author at takingtheboat@hotmail.com. The publication has received support in sponsorship and kind from the Heritage Council, Mayo County Council, Spear Design, Leeds Irish Health and Homes, and Irish Arts Foundation.
Tommy McLoughlin, manager of the Leeds Irish Centre, will officially launch the book, along with guest speaker Patrick O'Sullivan, Head of the Irish Diaspora Research Unit, University of Bradford. The launch is part of Irish Arts Foundation's programme of events for Irish History Month 2010, and will be followed by traditional entertainment by Leeds Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann (Irish Musicians' Association).
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About the Author:
Brendan McGowan was raised in County Mayo. He graduated from the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway with a B.A. in Heritage Studies in 2002 and an M.A. in Humanities in 2004. This book is based on his M.A. thesis.
Since graduating as a mature student Brendan has worked in the Education and
Outreach Department of the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Co. Mayo, where he also co-curated the successful Streets of London photographic exhibition. He also contributed to the publication Róisín Bán: The Irish Diaspora in Leeds (2006). Brendan currently works as Museum Mediator & Development Officer at the Galway City Museum.
For further information contact the author directly on + 353 85 8331148 or email takingtheboat@hotmail.com