On Friday night, Nov., 3rd 2000, the book "Ballina/Boher Parish, Our History and Traditions" by Kevin M and Kevin A. Griffin was launched at the Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe by Dr. William Nolan, Chairman, Tipperary History Society. A very large group of parishioners from Ballina/Boher attended this great historic occasion for the parish.

This book is the first major history of the parish, and was planned for the Millennium. Among the distinguished guests were His Grace, Dermot Clifford D.D. Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Very Rev. Fr. Edmond O’Rahelly, P.P. Ballina, Fr. Tom Lannigan Ryan C.C. Ballina, and Professor Anne Buttimer, President, International Geographic Association. Present also were relatives of the Griffin family from Lisdoonvarna, Doolin and Limerick and many friends.

Chairman of the Ballina/Boher Millennium Committee, Fr. Tom Lannigan Ryan, welcomed all to the launch of the Parish Book, – those from the parish, visitors, relatives and friends of the Griffin family who were present for the occasion.

First to address the gathering was the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Edmond O’Rahelly, He pointed out that many parishes throughout the country had erected monuments in stone and metal to mark the end of the second Millennium and the beginning of the third. He continues: "Our monument here in Ballina and Boher is this treatise on our history and on our traditions. This is our story. This is our foundation. The History of Ballina/Boher traces the lineage from Brian Boru, to the great monastic movement of the first centuries to those who are now living here in Ballina at the beginning of the third millennium.

"34 years ago Kevin Griffin crossed the Shannon and came to this parish as principal of Ballina National School for 28 years. His son, Kevin A. is Co-Author, and is following his father’s footsteps in his love for local history and traditions here.

Kevin M. and Kevin A., you have provided us with a fount of knowledge that will be treasured not only by this generation but by the generations to come. So on behalf of the people of Ballina/Boher, I want to thank you for your trojan work in producing this book and I know that your work i this book will be valued greatly not just by those families who have lived here for generations, but also by the many newcomers who have chosen Ballina/Boher as their future home."

His Grace, Archbishop Dermot Clifford was next to speak, saying how happy he was to visit Ballina/Boher, and referring to the old custom that all dioceses in Ireland had access to the sea, and in his case Ballina on the Shannon was that access for him!! He said that recently his colleague, Archbishop Cassidy of Tuam had told him that he had put down the crosier and taken up the pen (referring to his retirement and the book he had just written). In the same way Kevin Griffin had followed the same pattern by writing a book (with his son Kevin) after his retirement.

He continued: "This history produced here is a magnificent volume and it goes through 400 years of the history of this parish, through every aspect of the lives of the people – you are all in it! – pictures etc.; It is a tremendous bargain and should be in every house, and maybe a copy or two sent to people who are abroad because it will bring back memories to them in mind and heart – "I think that the two Kevin’s have produced a work that not only can they be proud of but that the whole parish can be proud of. As local histories go, I’d say that this is one of the finest you’ll ever find. Most people learned history in school – history of Ireland, England, the unification of Germany etc. – all so far away from them, so history became unpopular. In fact they tried to do away with it from the Curriculum in schools, making it a kind of optional subject. It would be a pity, however, if young people did not learn their history – the history above all of their local place.

The first place to get to know is your own local townland. your own family and the people who live around you. These are the building blocks of history. Then comes the parish – then you begin to go towards Limerick or Tipperary – bit by bit you widen the horizons – The history of your country then, and so on – It is so important now that we are in the EU. But always starting with your local place – the place you know best – the people who went before you. Because we are in many ways formed by the people who went before us.

To know nothing about them is like someone who has lost his memory. The memory of a people is an important as the memory of a person – History is so important that it should be taught, learned and appreciated. And you have a prime example here in this book – "The History of Ballina/Boher", and I would like to congratulate the authors, Kevin M. and Kevin A. Griffin.

You can be proud of yourselves tonight, and I want to say that I am proud too because that book can go on any shelf in any library anywhere in the world, and it will stand comparison with any history of any local parish in any part of the world. I’m sure that the book up there on the table will go to many corners of the world before Christmas – I hope it does. Go neiri go geal libh."

Kevin M. Griffin now welcomed all the guests, and expressed his gratitude to all for attending the function. He hoped that the book would live up to the expectations of his Grace, Archbishop Clifford and the other speakers, and he thanked the Ballina Millennium Committee for their unfailing support over the year. He thanked in particular Rev. Fr. Edmond O’Rahelly P.P. for all his advice, help and support as well as for the use of parish records and documents. He also thanked Fr. Tom Lannigan Ryan for his interest and help as well as the use of his books which were always available. He thanked all who had given him material and family records, and spoke of the happiness and quiet pride with which the many people interviewed spoke about the past and told their story.

He also mentioned the two strands so necessary in a parish book – history and tradition. The traditions of the people brought the historic facts alive, and he felt and hoped that this was done in the book being launched.

Kevin went on to thank the Lakeside Hotel – Proprietors, Management and staff for their unfailing help and at all times, but especially for this function. He complimented The Guardian, Nenagh for the printing of the book in record time, and praised their professionalism and courtesy.

Kevin A. Griffin, Co-Author, talked on the "forgotten Monuments" – these were only recently found in the parish, and very few knew about them. Among them were: the old chapel at Curraghviller, the Fulacht Fiadh at Tountinna, the Mass rock at Killary and the standing stones at Curraghmore. None of these monuments have been recorded on any book, document or map, and only in recent weeks, have they been noted as national monuments. Kevin A. also talked on the importance of photographs, and the history they carry. They tell us that we have a history – an important history, just as important as the history of Ireland or the history of Europe etc. The pride of the people of Ballina in their heritage is shown in your coming here tonight in such great numbers, and in all the help you have given us during the year. Without you this history would never have been written.

The final speaker, Dr. William Nolan before launching "Ballina/Boher Parish, Our History and Traditions" thanked the authors for having invited him to perform the launch of the book. He said that this book added immeasurably to our knowledge of North Tipperary. he went on: "I am particularly pleased that the Griffin’s have joined the ranks of local historians and academic historians from the North Tipperary area who have given tremendous service in adding to our knowledge of this important place. (These historians are:) George Cunningham, Danny Grace, Willie Hayes, Donal and Nancy Murphy, Martin Power, Seamus O’Riain and now the Griffin’s have joined that fine and illustrious roll of honour in bringing their parish to the fore in North Tipperary.

Kevin M. and Kevin A. have presented us this evening with a memorial of Ballina/Boher. for the pleasure of all who live or have lived between the Shannon and the Arra mountains. This book is indeed a "Meitheal" of homage to place and people and incorporates parishioners at home and those who have gone but really have never left. It is a communion of all the living and all the dead of this place. I think in many respects the book balances the written word as perceived in documentary sources in a very academic way with a keen eye for the landscape, and I think that this reflects Kevin M.’s 34-35 years domicile in Ballina; looking at it sometimes objectively as the outsider often does, and the more dramatic evidence of ruins and abandoned things which are found in this landscape.

I also notice that the Internet found a Fr. Michael Renihan in Osceola, Pennsylvania – so they were using the old kind of material of history and the more modern elements which bring everything to bear on the writing of this book – The book begins with location, which is fitting as the two Author are educationalists. In between the 389 pages there are over 40 figures and tables in the book all full of information about Ballina/Boher in past times and right up to contemporary times. Starting the photographs are The Committee – that great Irish institution without which very little in Ireland would be done."

Other photographs include Matt McGrath, the great Olympic Champion, then follow Hurlers, Handballers, a few footballers thrown in, Missionaries, Priests, Showbands, Creameries, big houses.....

It could be anywhere in Ireland, but because the Griffin’s have done such work in the tying of this material to this particular landscape, this is Ballina/Boher – no place else, and you will recognise it, and you will recognise you own people it it; The river, the forge, the placenames, the fishing rights, the faction fighters, the Dingers, the Dowsers, the Church windows as social history, famine, emigration. Every field in the parish – sometimes named – laughing schoolchildren....."

Three items which particularly impressed Dr. Nolan: The letter from Pat McNamara, revealing the trauma of the Civil War; Michael Renihan, Principal of Boher School in the 1980’s; Gerry Gough’s memories.

Concluding Dr. Nolan said: "I think Kevin M. and Kevin A. Griffin have kept the faith. They have kept trust with the people of Ballina and Boher. They have done a tremendous job of work. It will be there in years to come to honour them and their families, and all the people who contributed to the book. It gives me great pleasure to launch "Ballina/Boher Parish. Its History and Traditions. Mo bheannacht leat a scribhinn."

After the launch of the book, a very enjoyable night was had by all. The interest in the book was and continues to be tremendous, and after the launch individuals and little groups of people could be noted scattered throughout the hall and the hotel, reading and finding out about their own families, townlands, etc. etc. Sales were very brisk both before the launch and afterwards, and a large number of books were purchased. Price at the launch was £15 but in the shops afterwards, the cost is £18 – certainly a bargain for this beautifully presented historic work with its hard cover, colourful dust-cover and over 400 pages.