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Rare Cabra book back in print

Wednesday, 11 March 2009

A BOOK detailing Cabra’s relatively short history and which became an unlikely cult classic is back on the shelves after a 17-year absence. First editions of ‘Waiting for the 22’ became so rare that they were changing hands for up to e125 on the second hand market. But now locals and anybody with a Cabra connection have another chance to get their hands on a copy thanks to author Bernard Neary. Bernard, who works as a register in the Four Courts, originally compiled the book back in 1991 and was surprised to learn that it had become a collectors’ item. “I had been getting a few calls over the years from people looking for a copy after it went out of print,” he said. “But last year I was getting nearly five a week. I even got a call from a man in Chicago looking for one.” Bernard (58) was on holiday in London when he decided it was time to get the book back on the shelves. He had just been asked for a copy by a local women who told she wasn’t prepared to pay the e125 the book was priced at on an internet auction website. When he arrived home from London Bernard contacted Baldoyle based printers Futureprint who had originally published ‘Waiting for the 22’”. “When I spoke to them they told me they had just been in touch with a man from Manchester who was looking for three copies,” Bernard laughed. ‘Waiting for the 22’ was written to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Cabra West Parish. The name came from journalist Gene Kerrigan who came up with the title when asked by Bernard what he missed least about the area. There were originally 3,250 copies of the book printed, and Bernard had to hope they’d sell to cover his costs. Luckily they flew out of the shops and he’s unlikely to left out of pocket by the second batch of 1,500 which have been updated to include some extra pages of old photographs from the area. The story of Cabra dates back to the late ‘30s when the city fathers of the time decided to expand the north western borders of the city. And over the decades the area has spawned its fair share of success stories. Performers like Dickie Rock, Noel Brady from showband The Indians and actor Angeline Ball as well as soccer stars like Gerry Daly, Liam Whelan and Ashley Grimes have roots in Cabra. But it’s the local heroes like ladies club president, Eda Caffolla, and youth worker Paddy Carroll who are the real stars of ‘Waiting for the 22’. Bernard has a great love for Cabra having grown up the area. He went to school in Scoil Colmcille and St Declan’s College and was later a leader in a local youth club. In 1990 he decided that Cabra’s early years deserved to be remembered in print as it was coming up to the Golden Jubilee of Cabra West, and with the guidance of a few pals he carefully put the book together. He interviewed many key locals who played a part in shaping the tight-knit community and it didn’t take long before the book became a ‘must-read’ for Cabra locals. Bernard’s other books are also in demand, but most are sadly out of print. His works include ‘The candle factory - 500 Years of Rathborne's, Master Chandlers’ ‘Dublin 7’, ‘A History of Cabra and Phibsborough’ and ‘Lugs’ a biography on one of Dublin’s most famous gardai, Lugs Brannigan. n ‘Waiting for the 22’ is on sale priced e25 from the following outlets: Denis The Flowerman on Fassaugh Avenue; West Cabra Credit Union on Kilkiernan Road; Nephin Stores on Nephin Road; and the church shop in Church of the Most Precious Blood. Any retailers interested in selling the book can contact Bernard on 8387283.