Mohill native Fiona Slevin launched her book "By hereditary virtues a history of Lough Rynn" in the perfect location of Lough Rynn Castle surrounded by a large Mohill crowd last Thursday night, October 26.
Alan Hanly, MD of the Hanly Group who transformed the the run down historic Manor House into a luxurious Castle Hotel and Spa resort with an 18 hole golf course, officially launched the acutely researched book.
Local Mohillians turned up in their dr
oves to congratulate Fiona Slevin on her history book encompassing 150 years of Lough Rynn, Mohill and South Leitrim.
Alan Hanly said he was delighted and honoured to launch a book that was so much focused on Lough Rynn, Lord Leitrim and the Clements family.
He paid tribute to Fiona's commitment and enthusiasm which was so visible from the book. Mr Hanly told the crowd that the book will now take pride of place in the centre of the John McGahern Library in the Castle.
Fiona's brother Michael described the history of the book and how it transformed from a college thesis on the 'Agrarian revolt in South Leitrim' into a 204-page hardback professional history book that has already had rave reviews from history professors.
Fiona explained that the launch was the perfect transition from the old monograph published in 1997 to the new hardback book.
"After twenty two years of researching and writing it, I'm so glad to be able to finally launch it," Fiona said.
Fiona said she could think of no better place to launch the book than in the stunning Baronial Hall of Lough Rynn Castle, but she did remind the crowd that their grandparents and great-grand parents would probably turn in their graves if they saw them drinking wine and enjoying themselves in Lord Leitrim's house.
She commented that it was a lovely turn of events that only took 130 years.
Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Fiona said that many of her readers would be surprised in her approach to the most notorious man to come from these parts.
"It's quite a balanced book, I try to show both sides to this fascinating man. He was a progressive, modern man whose ideas were decades ahead of his contemporaries. He was a real developer for his time; he even banned smoking on the estate 150 years before the Government came up with the bright idea.
"We all know the bad stories but most have no fact and grow larger with each generation, my stories are steeped in fact. Really he was a progressive man with too much power and wealth," said the Mohill author.
Fiona also explained that the Baronial Hall they all stood in was designed by the same man who designed the Crystal Palace in London.
To the delight of her readers, Fiona read out a few paragraphs from her book which showed how precise and exact Lord Leitrim was.
Fiona concluded the launch by thanking everyone who had come along and bought a book, she wished them happy reading and asked for them all to provide her with feedback, as her research would still continue.
Fiona Slevin's 'By hereditary virtues, a history of Lough Rynn' is available to buy in Trinity Rare Books, Carrick-on-Shannon, in Paul Greenan's, Mohill and on the website www.lough rynn.net
