By Damien Maher
Over 300 people attended the official launch of ‘Medium Sized Town, Fairly Big Story’ by well-known journalist and broadcaster, Ronan Casey, in the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar last Thursday evening.
The Mullingar author, who previously penned the best-selling biography on the late Joe Dolan, was joined by fellow broadcaster and good friend, Hector Ó hEochagáin for what proved a great evening’s entertainment. Among the large gathering were local politicians and Mullingar’s Olympic boxing hero, John Joe Nevin, who now has two wins under his belt in his new professional career.
The book is a great collection of stories and headlines from Ireland’s regional newspapers and follows a hugely successful programme on national radio in which Ronan Casey and Hector gave ordinary people’s unusual stories a national platform.
LOCAL PAPERS
Ronan Casey described the launch as a great success and said he was thrilled with the support he received on the evening. He recalled how he met Hector in the Roisín Dubh, Galway, where he convinced the broadcaster to give him a slot on his new radio show about regional newspapers.
“Your local paper hangs around the house; it’s not thrown out. Wednesday was the only time we didn’t have to fight in our house to get a newspaper, ‘cause there were two local papers! That’s where my love of local papers began,” he said.
“This is the real Ireland,” remarked Casey.
The vivacious Ó hEochagáin, who had the crowd in raptures, shared tales of how he has became familiar with the town of Mullingar.
“As a Navan man I know Mullingar pretty well! When we had to drive to Galway, we’d always go, Navan, the bog road, Athboy, Delvin. When we’d go through Mullingar we’d go on to Horseleap and I thought it was like Narnia: this enchanted magical place, because there was always a lovely stream on the right hand side,” he recalled.
He explained how he’s become familiar with Castlepollard, Coole, Crookedwood (where he lived for a spell) and the magical, mystical lakes around Westmeath.
“Then I got to know Millie (Walsh) at the top of the town! If you have a car, you know Millie,” he declared.
The flamboyant broadcaster revealed how he had his debs in the Bloomfield House Hotel, which he said looked like the White House at the time!
QUIRKY TALES
Ronan recalled how the radio show with Hector became a huge hit with ordinary people.
“Ireland at the time, four years ago, we were still down in the dumps. All the talk on radio was of the state of the economy. Hector’s show brought some fresh air to the airways and I saw it as the chance to add a bit of hot air to his fresh air!” he quipped.
All the quirky local tales like the Cork man who wanted to run cars on whiskey, and the woman who was fined €250 for driving a car with an onion ring, are included in the book and the author feels all these incredible stories needed to be told.
Among those to send Ronan good wishes on the night was British author, Tony Parsons, Sonia O’Sullivan, Paddy Cullivan (Late Late Show band) and all of the staff from TV3’s Ireland AM also sent their regards, as did former Irish soccer star Paul McGrath. Westmeath Cathaoirleach, Ken Glynn was thanked for proposing a motion, congratulating the Mullingar author.
The versatile Casey has enjoyed an exciting career in journalism and broadcasting to date and revealed how working with Hector has been one of the real highlights.
“I had three of the best years of my life working with Hector. Every Tuesday, there was nothing like it, driving to Galway to bring these stories to the nation. It meant so much, something I can’t put into words,” he remarked.
“I’ve always been a local newspaper man and I was delighted to come back to Mullingar. It’s a great town. I had a great 10 years with the Westmeath Examiner and I’m delighted to be part of a great team at the Westmeath Topic now,” he added.
Deirdre Nolan from publishers Gill and McMillan said the book has been about a year in the making, but the story goes back a lot further.
“I was listening to Hector and of corse Ronan’s segment on Medium Sized Town, so I suggested to Ronan that it should be put into a book. And a year later here we are,” she remarked.
