Historic map given back to Athlone Sub-Aqua Club by O’Rourke family
By Rebekah O'Reilly
A 1667 map of Connacht belonging to the late Mary O'Rourke has been returned to Athlone Sub-Aqua Club by Cllr Aengus O'Rourke.
The map of Connacht, a reproduction from the 1667 production of the 'Atlas Major', was presented to Mary as part of the Dive Ireland Expo in 1999, an event which saw diving enthusiasts and marine conservationists, gathering in Athlone for an event featuring workshops, exhibitor showcases, and other interactive activities.
Some 26 years later, Liam Sherrington, Athlone Sub-Aqua Club Search and Recovery Diving Officer, was delighted to welcome the magnificent piece back to the club.
“We're very grateful to get this map back. We presented this to Mary in March 1999 as part of Dive Ireland 99. I was 17 at the time, and I still remember being in the room. The map was designed by Dutch cartographer Joannes Blaeu, and was given to us by Ken Atherton from the UK Hydrographic Office,” said Liam Sherrington, Search and Recovery Diving Officer.
“It’s a map of Connacht, and as you can see, Ireland is called Hibernia, meaning the land of the eternal winter. It shows all the waterways and lakes, and Athlone is there as ‘Athlon’, so it shows a huge history going back to 1662. It's really nice, and we’ll be hanging it up on the wall in pride of place.”
Cllr O'Rourke shared that his late mother had a special place in her heart for the Sub-Aqua Club, and he felt it right to bring the map back to them following her passing in October of last year.
“My mum had a great affinity for Athlone Sub-Aqua Club, and was very much involved with a number of their development and expansion projects down through the years. In 1999, they made a very generous presentation to her of a beautiful map of Connacht and Lough Ree for Dive Ireland 99.
“It was dating back to the 1600s, and I was aware of it and I knew it was an important piece, and quite recently while trying to collate all mam’s possessions, I came across it and I thought that it would be a nice idea to present it back to the club so that the members of the club and the generations who will come through the club in the future will get to see it and that it will hang on the walls here in their clubhouse.
“I thought it was lovely piece myself, but I think for it to come home is the right thing.”
Speaking to the Westmeath Independent last Tuesday (April 15), Liam noted Mary and the extended O'Rourke family have always been great advocates for Athlone Sub-Aqua Club.
“Mary was always a great supporter throughout the years. She helped us to secure our site right beside the River Shannon. It was built by Athlone architect John Rattigan, and Mary officially opened the clubhouse in September 2003. This was a greenfield site in what used to be Wansboro Field, and Mary helped us to secure grants, so the site is actually under a 100-year lease, and belongs to the council. Before that, we were based out of a barge at the White Gates. Mary helped us with funding for our first RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) in Coosan Point in 1991, and a number of other RIBs since then.
“The O’Rourke family have been so good to us over the years in helping us to secure funding and grants, and Aengus is continuing that relationship. The truth is the Sub-Aqua Club would be ten years behind if it wasn’t for the O’Rourke family’s assistance and support to the club.”