Robert Fisher
Staff Reporter
KILLALOE – Local Killaloe historian Lynne Postill is on a mission to discover some of the facts about the origins of old Killaloe and separate the fact from the folklore.
Postill gave a presentation at the Killaloe and District Public Library about the project, which she plans to turn into a book, last Tuesday evening.
“I’m writing the history of old Killaloe,” she began, “because I’m tired of the unsourced information that is totally incorrect.”
She has seen some photos with supposed dates that don’t necessarily line up with what information she has discovered about when people were born, for example. She found a photo of an old mill in the village that is dated sometime around 1902. The mill is a different shape than other photos of the structure she has seen. “So I’ve been trying to find out when they put this extension on.”
The mill is reputed to have burned down at one point, however, a source Postill has spoken with told her, “there’s absolutely no signs of that.” Another old house, belonging to the MacDonnell family is also supposed to have burned down, “but I think they’re mistaking it for a sawmill,” said Postill.
“Hearsay is interesting. It makes a good story. But if you’re a historian,” like Roderick MacKay who wrote Spirits of the Little Bonnechere: A History of Exploration, Logging and Settlement 1800 to 1920, you want to be accurate. Postill said MacKay’s book is very well sourced and she wanted to do something similar on the history of old Killaloe, which was a larger settlement than ones like Sligo and Basin Depot that MacKay wrote about. “Put some exact information, as far as I could, really sourced information,” to the history and she will note if something is hearsay.
She gave an example of a mill in the area that was, supposedly, built in 1849. The person who, apparently, built the mill though was only born in 1843. “So he was just six years old when he built it.”
She’s also looking into some of the history of Hoch Farm, now the site of Killaloe Pathways Park. Nicole Zummach, CEO of the library in Killaloe, is keen to expand some of the historical information available at the library, which is part of the reason Postill is taking on the project.
She tried before and didn’t get very far. She wanted to get access to the archives of township council meeting minutes and the township wouldn’t allow her. She said there have been some personnel changes at the township in staff and council and she’s now able to get the access she needs.
Postill is a historian by passion, rather than training, and comes by the interest honestly. “My father knew every Roman road in England. My brother lives in York and he can take you around York and tell you where everything is and everything about it.” She says she likes the history here because it “only” covers about 200 to 300 years. Unlike British history which goes back to 1066, at least.
“I’ve always come from a family that was interested and always wanted to know the source.” Her family lived near the location where the program Downton Abbey originated and recalls looking at the old buildings, including Highclere Castle, with fascination.
Postill expects her history of old Killaloe will be ready in May next year.
robert@thevalleygazette.ca
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