Mayo woman features in new National Treasures Book

Mary McGing from Claremorris is one of the featured contributors in the brand new National Treasures Book, which is the latest installment of the National Treasures project that captured the nations imagination when it aired on RTE1 earlier this year.

Mary, who brought along a picture containing Pope John 23rd, JFK and Pope Paul 6th to a National Treasures Roadshow in Galway, is one of a select few individuals to be featured in the publication which is sure to be a top seller around the country this Christmas.

The picture illustrated a combination of religion, politics and emigration in Ireland and reflects what the people of Ireland felt was important during the 60’s and 70’s.

"I’m not sure whether this is a religious object, a political object, or a reflection of emigration in Ireland. It used to hang in my grandmother’s house. She was born in America but her family returned to Ireland shortly after.

“One of her relatives brought this object back from America around 1962. Images of popes and images of John F. Kennedy hung on almost every wall in Ireland but this picture is unusual in that three big icons from the time are all pictured together in one frame surrounded by some glitter.

"I think it reflects what the ordinary people of Ireland felt was important at the time and also JFK’s standing in Irish society as being equal to a pope."

The National Treasures project was a campaign to collect objects cherished by people and families that explore the history of the island of Ireland over the past 100 years.

The aim was to gather objects, passed down through generations or relatively recently acquired, which revealed an aspect of Ireland’s history, culture and experience. Since then, the project has transformed from a website to nationwide roadshow events, a TV series, an exhibition and now a book containing some of the amazing objects and stories uncovered.

Authors and producers of the National Treasures project, Ciarán Deeney and David Clarke said: “It’s been a real treat to spend the past year meeting the people of Ireland and discovering so many amazing objects and the stories behind them.

“We’re forever grateful to all the people that participated and we feel that this book illustrates perfectly how the National Treasures project was a powerful insight into the fabric of a nation.”

With a foreword by RTÉ’s John Creedon, this fascinating book reveals a selection of 200 diverse and fascinating objects that were unearthed by the project and presents them alongside the owners and the personal stories attached.

From a pair of Sonia O’Sullivan’s Olympic running shoes to a War of Independence grenade, the stories contained within are profound, entertaining, heart-warming and tragic.

The National Treasures project was produced by EZ Films for RTÉ in association with the National Museum of Ireland and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The book is available in all good book shops and online at www.nationaltreasures.ie/shop