New book on Rosemount history to be launched

A new book on the history of Rosemount is to be launched this weekend. Rosemount Past and Present will be unveiled at a launch event in the community centre on Saturday night at 8pm. It features stories such as how the first Catholic ever to run for presidency of the US, and four times governor of New York, Al Smith, came on a visit to Rosemount, the parish from which his grandparents had emigrated to New York. But that's not the only curiosity about this vibrant Westmeath community covered in detail in a new history of the area. In fact, reveals, Fr Jimmy Murray, who headed up the committee of locals who have for the past year and more being working on "Rosemount Past and Present", the area attracted the attention of archaeologists from Harvard University in the 1930s, who found themselves with two exciting sites to examine - a Bronze Age cemetery, and a couple of miles from that, two crannógs. Guest speaker at the launch is Dr Patrick Geoghegan. Prior to the book launch, there will be a community celebration of Mass at 6.45 pm.