What do you know about your granny? What was her childhood like, what games did she play, what was her first job, her first love?
Not many of us know details of generations past, even of our own parents’ history, and that’s a pity.
So much is slipping away without being recorded for children present and children yet to come.
When I visit groups to talk about my own experiences I always instruct the listeners to buy a note book and begin writing down all they can remember – if you can talk, you can write.
Once you’ve gathered all your memories of what family life was like when you were a child, school life, words used and now out of fashion, why not consider printing them in a book and I know just where you can go to achieve this invaluable family background.
Seán O’Halloran lives in the Glens of Antrim and he’s a publisher. He will take your notes, short stories, poems and your photos and return them to you in book form – and it’s a great thrill.
His company, Clachan Publishing, is based in a room at his Ballycastle home.
He and his wife, Helen, met when she was a teacher in the Cross and Passion College in Ballycastle. Both have careers working in education and it’s taken them round the world.
They travelled to Singapore, where Seán taught English in the prestigious Raffles Junior College, teaching boys and girls of 17 upwards.
“All assignments had to be submitted via word processors and computers were common place, that was in 1980 so technology was well advanced.”
From there the family moved to Hong Kong. They remember a time of terrible violence around the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, China, and where in Hong Kong when Chris Patten became the last governor of the island, from 1992 to 1997.
They recalled the frightening sight of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army marching along the road into Hong Kong to take over from the UK after 156 years of British rule.
Eventually, in 2002 the family returned to Northern Ireland; Seán to roles in Ulster University and Queen’s University, and Helen becoming principal of St Mary’s primary school on Rathlin Island.
Challenging Times
But Seán’s ill health was taking its toll, with cancer and sciatica; for more than a year he couldn’t move, during which time his cousin asked him to help her investigate their ancestors. It was a distraction so he agreed.
Lying in bed, balancing his laptop on his knees, he began recording the story of the family, and so Clachan Publishing was born.
For Seán it began a career in researching and publishing many valuable out-of-copyright antiquarian books, scanning the images, forming them into readable text when old fashioned fonts caused confusion.
However, more often it’s family memories like the book he published for a woman recalling her ancestors, the United Irishmen and the foundation of the Labour party in Derry.
There was no way of getting a reprint until I heard of Seán so, with fingers crossed, I went along to see him in Ballycastle last year complete with one of the last copies of Standby Studio – and he said, “No problem”
Another was for the specialist who introduced kidney dialysis for children in the City Hospital, and another a family’s loving present to a grandfather for his 80th birthday. They had put together letters from friends, tributes from his children and grandchildren, some handwritten, others typed and lots of photographs, all recording his years.
A private publication for family only and a precious gift. “The books I’m asked to work on are all interesting,” says Seán, adding: “That one was moving.”
Building A Book
When it comes to working with a client on a specific project, with Seán’s advice they decide on layout, text, design of front cover, the number of copies. Once he and the author are happy he sends the finished work to internet printers and within a short time those dreams become a reality.
Since he began publishing in 2012, Seán has completed 56 publications – including a book I had written but was out of print.
There was no way of getting a reprint until I heard of Seán so, with fingers crossed, I went along to see him in Ballycastle last year complete with one of the last copies of Standby Studio – and he said, “No problem”.
He took the book apart, scanned 200 pages into his computer – which he did admit was tedious – but the result was 25 perfect books and because all the information is stored electronically, I can have more copies at anytime.
Lest you think this will cost the earth, while it depends on what is required, it’s no more than buying a paperback in a bookshop.
The bigger the order, the cheaper the price – but don’t be put off, he specialises in short print runs and the result is a cause for celebration.
More information at clachanbooks.com, by telephoning 077 9892 6624 or emailing ClachanPublishing@outlook.com