New book launched on history and heritage of the Parish of Windgap

A new book on the history of Windgap has been launched by James and Noel Ryan.

This new book las been launched and has been presented to the minister for Heritage Malcolm Noonan and seen in attached photo. This launch is in time for the ancient winter solstice in Knockroe, Probably Kilkenny’s and the southeast’s oldest monument and, a very accessible illustrated tomb with alignments to the rising and setting sun on the winter Solstice.

As referenced in the foreword by professor Muiris o Suilleabhan of UCD this book beautifully illustrates a heritage ‘the Beauty that the world did not touch’.

The perfect Christmas gift and the perfect primer on Knockroe and its winter solstice. The story in this well illustrated book starts 3000 BC with the ancient passage tomb at Knockroe which was re-discovered in 1995.

This tomb has its chambers un-capped and open to view and is of particular interest as it has alignments to both the rising and setting sun on the days around the winter solstice.

In addition, 18 of the stones in the structure had been engraved with spirals and other motifs only ound in the northern half of Ireland.

The story continues with legends from early Ireland, the influx of Christian and British rule and terrific research has been presented to show by example, the active involvement of local people in the tumultuous wars and rebellions of the last few hundred years.

Windgap is an iconic rural parish in south Kilkenny with a deep retained set of monuments and links.For the first time, the full story and the collected information of the monuments and people of Wind-up and surrounding region have been assembled and illustrated with some revealing images and photos into a book.

AVAILABILITY
The book is on sale in local shops in the Tea Rooms and Walsh`s shop in Windgap, the Book Centre
Kilkenny, the Book and Coffee shop in William St. Kilkenny, Maher petrol station Callan and Joe Lyons Greengrocer Callan.

THE AUTHORS
James Ryan is a local businessman with a strong interest in photography and local history. Noel Ryan is a retired technician, an avid researcher and keen photographer at local GAA and community events.

Both James and Noel Ryan are the sons of Sean and Philomena Ryan who ran the local shop and post office for 50 years as the centre of local news. Sean was a keen photographer and many of the older photos were collected by him. Both actors are available to comment by appointment.