Fourteen local women born between the 1920’s and 1960’s have shared their varied experiences and lives in a new book.

Day-to-day living and peculiar adventures such as memories of the crew of a German U Boat, drinking coffee in a kitchen after an incident are just some of the stories within this text. How they lives their lives, cooked and looked after their families. Their thoughts on the past, the times they miss and don’t are some of the topics discussed.

The stories were gathered by one-to-one interviews with the editor Alison Wickham as part of celebrating 400 years of Clonakilty as a town. Also as a way of capturing the memories of a generation for successive generations to see, read and understand. Through this book we can see Ireland the way that it is – the history and laws that shaped women’s lives in it.

Alison Wickham is a qualified nurse who also gained a degree in organisational psychology. She was born in the New Zealand and has also lived in the US for two years.

The stories were gathered by one-to-one interviews, mostly from people that know the editor. She sought out information that would add a variety of experiences to the book.

Women Speak – Life for Clonakilty Women in the 1990’s Volume 1, was launched in O’ Donovan’s Hotel in Clonakilty on the 11th of July to a warm community atmosphere.

The book was printed by selfpublishbooks.ie in Carrigtohill, Cork due to the small, local appeal of the book and the customer responsiveness of the staff there.

All proceeds go to the ClonakiltyMuseum for artefacts relating to local women. It is available at the Clonakilty Bookshop, Kerr’s Bookshop, Coughlan’s Bookshop and Bandon Books.

Shown is a picture of the Editor Alison Wickham and Director of selfpublishbooks.ie Frank Kelly.