By Michelle Crawley
ONE could be forgiven for making the mistake of thinking that the 350 people gathered at the Annebrook House Hotel on Thursday evening last, 6 November, had come for a St. Loman’s Hospital reunion – such was the turnout and enthusiasm for the launch of a brand new book which chronicles the 160 year history of the hospital.
In fact, the book launch of ‘A History of St. Loman’s Hospital in Changing Times’ well and truly served as a trip down memory lane for all who stepped inside the Edgeworth’s Suite, and found themselves swapping stories, reliving memories, catching up with former colleagues, reminiscing about the days gone by and listening to many a story which began with, “if it were not for my grandparents or parents meeting at St. Loman’s Hospital, we would never have been born.”
Indeed, to quote Joe Maleady, one of the writers of this book, ‘there wasn’t a family in Mullingar (at the time of St. Loman’s Hospital heyday) that didn’t know someone working there.” After all, St. Loman’s Hospital was amongst the town’s biggest employers in the last century. And if the sheer size of the crowd that turned out on the night for the book launch was anything to go by, then it is evidently clear that St. Loman’s Hospital has a big place in the hearts of many people in this town.
18 MONTHS IN THE
MAKING
The book, which was researched and written by Frank Hynes, Odran Hynes, Ann Masterson, Breffni O’Reilly, Margaret O’Neill and Joe Maleady, took over 18 months in the making but nobody can deny that it was 18 months that have been served well. The fruits of their labour have manifested into a beautiful treasure filled with memories and tales of the hospital’s 160 year history. From chapters that recount the evolution of nursing at the hospital, to nuggets of insightful information about the striking and imposing building itself, to reliving sporting history through the establishment of St. Loman’s GAA and Pitch and Putt Club, to an account of the hospital’s self-sufficiency in setting up a farm onsite to grow vegetables, and employing a seamstress to mend stitches, one is transported into the village-like setting that was St. Loman’s Hospital in the early 20th century.
“NOSTALGIA AND
SADNESS”
“We all have had a huge affinity with St. Loman’s. I can certainly say that I liked my place of work and the people I got the pleasure of working with,” beamed Joe Maleady as he addressed the large crowd seated and standing in every corner of the room. “We won’t get nominated for Booker Prize of the Year but I think we have delivered a good book and that there is something in it for everyone,” he stated emphatically with a smile. “There is definitely some nostalgia in the book and some sadness too when we think of the people who are no longer with us. We hope by producing this book that the memories of those who are no longer with us and the memories of the hospital will live on for years,” he added poignantly.
APPRECIATION
Having emphasised the scale of taking on such a task as documenting the hospital’s history in one book, Joe, on behalf of his fellow writers, was quick to show appreciation to the public for their support of the project, making sure to thank Mullingar Credit Union, the Retired Nurses’ Association, the now disbanded Mullingar Town Council for providing funding for the literary project, Ruth Illingworth for her fantastic insight into the history of the hospital, Greta Connell in the County Library for her assistance, Mary Mulligan and John Clarke for their assistance with the book, Julia Smyth for agreeing to type the book, Jennifer Nolan for ably assisting with scanning and arranging photographs, and the people of St. Loman’s Hospital who Joe says were “absolutely magnificent” and received the writers with great courtesy when they called to their doors at random hours to ask for their assistance in identifying people in photographs. “We are very grateful to the people we met in town who gave us photographs for the book and took such great interest in what we were doing.”
And looking down at his family, and the family of his fellow collaborators on the book, and the families of all who turned out on the night to be part of the trip down memory lane, Joe expressed his thanks to the writers’ families and everyone who contributed in some way towards the book.
SENSE OF FAMILY
Speaking at the launch, Anthony Coyne, the current Director of Services at St. Loman’s Hospital, pointed out on the night that there was a “great sense of family” at the hospital which made it no ordinary workplace.
“There was such great belonging and friendship within those walls.” And if the comradery amongst the crowd, which stretched all the way to the stairs, was anything to go by, it wasn’t hard to believe that the staff treated each other like family at the hospital, and made their role within the hospital central to their lives.
PURCHASE THE BOOK
For those who couldn’t make the launch and would like to purchase a copy of ‘A History of St. Loman’s in Changing Times’, the book will be on sale for the price of €20 in Rochfort’s Superstore, Easons, and Days Bazaar, Mullingar.
