On Saturday the 10th December at the Leinster Hills Golf Club the 11th edition on the Ballon/Rathoe Chronicle was launched.
I remember, as a private thought, when the 1st issue was brought out that it would be difficult to follow. That the well of memories was sure to be exhausted. And for all subsequent issues I repeated the same mantra to myself. I must now concede that I was gloriously wrong. Each edition seems to act like a magnet to the collective memory attracting new memories to the poles of the past.
The gathering was officially opened by deputy editor, Declan Nolan, introducing guest speaker Suzanne Pender, news editor of The Nationalist. Suzanne said that hadn’t time to study it in depth and then launched in a pithy précis of most articles (must be the job training). She also remarked that Michael Dawson was the successful promoter and editor of the Chronicle for all its issues but even more outstanding he has been the editor for the Ballon/Rathoe news in the Nationalist for an unbroken 44 years delivering a quality report each week being careful to include all sections of the parish equally.
Michael continued by thanking the committee and all contributors past and present for their diligence and hard work. And a special thanks was made to all the advertisers who support the production each year so keeping down the cost of the final product.
It really is a quality work not just in its content but also in its presentation.
Michael Dawson shares a joke with us and enjoyed obviously by Suzanne Pender
