Customer Reviews

The Stars of Ballymenone

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Readers who have read Glassie's other books about Ballymenone will likely find this book adds to an already rich understanding of this remarkable little community. The specific information about the changes in the community from the 1970s and early 80s up to the present is fascinating. It is also interesting, and moving, to discover more complete life histories of the area's stellar storytellers, musicians, and historians. I especially appreciated Glassie's further reflections about what it means to do research within the community. The book combines information from the earlier books, but the presentation is fresh and new. It's great to have a full treatment of mumming within this volume, and I enjoyed reading new stories as well as new presentations of earlier ones that are already in print. What puts the icing on the cake, however, is the wonderful CD that accompanies this volume. The chance to hear the voices of Hugh Nolan, Michael Boyle, Ellen Cutler, Peter Flanagan and other gifted artists keeps their memories come alive and makes this a poignant contribution to an understanding of Irish history, culture, and folklore.

I found Henry Glassie's ' Passing The Time in Ballymenone' completely by accident in a long forgotten second hand book shop in Lincoln Place in Dublin 2.
The study of a society and community very similar to my own origins was gripping and fascinating and the book survives on my shelves to this day. it is like a bottle of whisky to be savoured when the thought occurs.
Mr Glassie was in Dublin recently and I missed his visit. Though I regret this it still triggered a visit to Google and then Amazon and hence the Stares of Ballymenone has now joined it's companion on my shelves.
Glassie writes stylishly and with a great ability to paint a picture and bring the reader to the company of his characters and the actuality of his places.This is not nostalgia or romance. It is a true story told about people with culture,talent and survival instinct. They are not perfect nor does the author pretend to be.
If you were born in urbanville,anywhere this is a good story to capture the essence of rural survival at a time of change and some turmoil. If you are from a rural background it may ring bells for you about things or habits in your past or it may give an insight into how your ancestors survived to shape the rural world of today.
I'm sorry to have missed Glassie in Dublin but I heard him being interviewed by Vincent Woods on Irish radio and I was fascinated to hear him mention William Faulkner as an influence on him. I had just finished reading 'As I lay dying' and I was struck by how close some of the vernacular used in that powerful novel is close to what I heard and used as i was reared in west Fermanagh in the sixties.
My descendants owe a huge debt of gratitude to 'The Yank'
Thank you Henry Glassie.