New book 'Cabbage Street' contains lifetime of memories

Jimmy Muldarry (senior), late of Patrick Street, Mulligar, recorded his life’s memories on a number of dictaphone tapes. The content had been typed verbatim and remained completely unedited, and he gifted a copy of it to Tony Lyons in the hope that he, as a professional actor at the time, might be able to make a film out of it.

Tony said: “It remained in my procession for 20 years before I had the opportunity to revisit it. As it was his earnest wish to have the story told, I set about editing and restructuring the transcript.

“Now, after almost two years of work, it is ready for publication.

“Although Jimmy had sadly passed before I began this task, his family, friends and neighbours have been of great help to me in putting it all together, for which I am eternally grateful. I am also a native of Patrick Street and with the permission of his family, I have entitled the book ‘Cabbage Street’, which was the actual name of our street as far back as 1837.

“It is, I hope, an interesting record of the social history of the town and county during Jimmy’s lifetime in the mid-20th century.”

Cabbage Street will be launched at Mullingar Arts Centre on Tuesday November 11 at 7.30pm; the evening includes a wine reception and all are welcome. The book will be available to buy in Just Books from November 12.