Jockey launches uncle"s memoirs

Like Shane Lowry after winning the Irish Open Golf Championship at Baltray on Sunday, Paddy Maguire of Kilmessan had similar problems keeping back the crowds at his book launch and signing in Fergie Maguire"s on Saturday. The pub was packed to capacity for the publication of Mr Maguire"s book "To Cut A Long Story Short", launched by his nephew and Tribley native Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey, Adrian, who travelled from his Cork base for the occasion. Mr Maguire wrote the book to celebrate his 90th birthday this month, after one of the Salesian Fathers from Warrenstown College suggested that his many tales and memories of the past should be put in print. What started off as a family memoir became a 100-page collection of yarns from the past around Kilmessan, with memories of school days, the Eucharistic Congress, the war years, milling, farming, the local train station, fieldnames, village life, courtship, and working on the buildings, and characters he met along the way, as well as a collection of photographs. Mr Maguire also recalls sporting stories from his days playing hurling and running in athletics competitions. Printed by A and J Print in Skryne, the book includes a foreword by parish priest Fr Terry Toner, and is available in local shops at €10.