Step back in time with Limerick's latest Stroll Down Memory Lane

A PHOTOGRAPHIC look back through time, Volume 25 of Limerick: A Stroll Down Memory Lane, by Sean Curtin, take readers on a journey of the streetscapes, the homes, the hairstyles and the clothes that people wore in our city and county in the days gone by.

The former Limerick Leader employee started the book as a way to keep photos from the archives together with short informative captions, in the very first volume.

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Over the years, the book has grown and the most recent issue gives a sense of the time that the photo was taken in, as well as a story, if someone has shared it with Mr Curtin.

When asked how it makes him feel to see the finished edition, Mr Curtin simply and justifiably said: “Proud.”

“I love compiling these pictures,” he said, adding that every photo inspires a story or brings back a memory.

He pointed out that he insists on having the names, if not all, then most, because while people might recognise someone now, that might not always be the case in the future.

“You might know the names today, but they may not be known tomorrow or in 20 years time.”

He added that the quality of the printing is always a source of pride for him and he is delighted that it is printed by Limerick Printing.

“When the Leader used to print it, it was top class and I'm a great believer in using the best quality printing that you can afford,” he said.

“There is one man, his relative, a Mr Forrestal who grew up in the Pike area, moved to America in the 1960's when he was a young child, and they still get a book every single year.

“There is another woman from Greenmount Avenue in Ballinacurra Weston and there's a picture of her and her family in their Sunday best, ready to go on a plane to America and they have contacted me every single year to get the next volume.”

Mr Curtin explained that it takes about 10 months to pull the edition together.

“It takes time, but it's an enjoyable 10 months and you don't notice the time when you love what you're doing,” he smiled.

He said that it is a real labour of love and he loves the way in which seeing the photos always starts conversations and gets people thinking back to how things were in the city and county.

Each volume is meticulously checked for spelling errors, historical accuracy and proofread by up to five people.

The book also pays tribute to those who have died over the past year since the last volume was published. This list includes those who contributed to previous volumes, or helped in any way, or deaths Mr Curtin was made aware of.

“In the last four of five years, that page is full, and I always try to acknowledge people from Rathbane where I grew up and Lynwood Park where I live,” he said.

For an older person who has enough trinkets and token gifts, this could be the perfect present to bring them back to their childhood and they might even spot some familiar faces.

Volume 25 of Limerick: A Stroll Down Memory Lane, is available to buy in all good bookshops and from Sean Curtin himself every Saturday in the Milk Market, for €18.