Jeremy attended the launch of The Hegartys of the Laurels: A Story of Unsung Heroism held in Cork City Library, Grand Parade, Cork. Jeremy attended in his capacity as editor for Lettertec Ireland Ltd, Ireland’s premier craft book-printer. The book is a personal history of author Jim Hegarty family’s role in Ireland’s independence struggle, and later Civil War, centring around the various subversive activities that occurred in the Hegarty family homestead in Cork: a safe house, landmine factory, arms and ammunition dump, the No 1 Brigade’s base, and a base for Cumann na mBan’s intelligence gathering.
The book is a warm, insightful but also penetrating insight into the epochal events that have shaped recent Irish history.
The insights the book affords into Cumann na mBan, the all-female wing of the IRA, their various intelligence-gathering operations, how they used their cunning, intelligence and guile to uncover invaluable information, was Jeremy’s favourite part of the book. The fact that Nan and Mamie Hegarty, two central figures in Cork city Cumann na mBan, were aunts to the author Jim Hegarty, gives this historical record a uniquely personal touch. This personal touch helps readers appreciate the meaning behind the historical research.
Author Jim Hegarty was very impressed with the comprehensive publishing services provided by Lettertec. He was also very grateful to Jeremy for the extensive manuscript-review service (Editor’s Report) he provided, and thanked him for his ‘expert advice’. On working with Lettertec again, Jeremy remarked:
‘It was a pleasure to work with Frank, Brian, Fionnuala, Shelly and the entire Lettertec team, on such an important book. Walking into Cork City Library and seeing such an impressive display, and seeing the finished, published book, was very heartening. I always enjoy working with Lettertec, because you can be assured the finished book will be of outstanding quality, as they utilise their Ota-binding craft printing methods. This helps the pre-production work we (JM Agency) do enormously, as you know Lettertec have the expertise, professionalism and technology to bring the book to life, to make good on the work we have put in. It is also heartening to know that books of such outstanding quality can be produced in Ireland.’
‘The Hegartys of the Laurels-‘ can be purchased through Lettertec Bookstore and other retailers, and the ‘The Hegartys of the Laurels Display’ is currently on display in Cork City Library, Grand Parade.