Coffee Table Book on Westmeath Houses

A large book comprising around 700 photos of many local houses, which are almost as many years old was launched last month in Athlone.
Athlone historian, Donal O’Brien researched, photographed, and wrote ‘The Houses and Landed Families of Westmeath’.  The work is a perfect resource for students of local history, and for the pure enjoyment of those interested in particular local houses of history in the county.
The coffee table style book was launched by another Athlone historian, Gearoid O’Brien at the Prince of Wales, Hotel.  The houses featured in the book are catalogued alphabetically and begin at Abbey House in Athlone, and end with two Woodville Houses, one in Lissywollen, Athone and the other in Mullingar.   
Donal is a native of St. Francis Terrace, Athlone, and was one of five children of Harry and May O’Brien.    
At the Prince of Wales Hotel last month, the room was crowded with family, friends and neighbours of Donal’s, which included many devotees of local history.
“He has left no stone unturned in his search for information.  Quite often in the course of his researches he caught out earlier writers who had perhaps jumped to conclusions or mixed up two different houses,” said Gearoid about Donal’s authorship of the new history book. “Through the pages of this wonderful book we can trace the various movements in Irish architecture through the last 300 years as evidenced by the great houses of Westmeath.  Quite apart from the houses is the great deal of information on the families who lived in the houses – this includes amusing stories and anecdotes about many of the landed families of Westmeath.”
Gearoid made a prediction about Donal’s book.  He said that in 100 years, people will be talking about Donal O’Brien – the man who wrote ‘The Man and Landed Families of Westmeath’.
The book is available in the Left Bank Antiques shop, Main Street, Athlone (next to Sean's Bar), and other local shops, or directly from Donal.