One of Fermanagh and Cavan’s greatest ever folklorists and storytellers will be honoured at the launch of a mammoth collection of folklore in Kinawley Community Centre on Friday, November 8.

Entitled ‘Fermanagh and Cavan’s Ancient Folklore’- it is a celebration of the articles published by Eamon Anderson from Kinawley who was born in 1897 and passed away in 1960.

In a period from approximately 1939-1950, ‘Eddie’ Anderson got on his bicycle and spoke to the old people in that region and also as far away as Glangevlin and collected stories, ballads, poems and sayings from the region.

It was a real passion for a man who was also gifted with a colourful turn of phrase which enlivened this priceless collection of social history.

And every night he would sit down and write what he had heard by candlelight into the small hours.

The result is a treasure trove of local heritage which was published and is a mine of information for anyone interested in how life was in the region going back hundreds of years.

Apart from his literary talents, Eddie was also a great Irish scholar and always greeted those he met in the native tongue.

The book was compiled by renowned local historian John B. Cunningham who has access to Eddie’s writings in the local media.

It is published by Arlene Anderson and Iona McGoldrick, granddaughters of Eddie Anderson, and it has been a real labour of love for the family.

“Iona and I did the introduction to the book, which is about his life, memories people would have had of him," explained Arlene.

“Grandad believed that the rich traditions of the seanachies made for good reading as they helped foster the interest of the people of Fermanagh and surrounding areas, in the past.

“He also loved the Irish language and translated Irish programmes from the radio into English for people he would be ceilidhing with.

“And we discovered that our family had relatives in Chile and one of them came to visit us last October and it was very emotional.”

Arlene added: “His father, Andrew Anderson was principal in Kinawley National School for 30 years and that was where our grandfather would have got his love of learning and words from.”

“My grandfather was a farmer, but it was my grandmother did most of the work as he would have been out on his bicycle all of the time talking to people.

“There was no lane to our house at that time, and my father remembers him parking his bike at the shop across from the present football field, walked across fields home after collecting stories all day and came in and sat for hours writing down what he had heard during the day.

“Grandfather had a great love of Glangevlin as Irish was spoken there up until the 1930s.

“And he had the Irish from his father.

“Our grandfather passionately delved into the histories of towns and regions, shedding light on their development and significant events.

“He explored the genealogies of prominent Irish families, tracing their lineage and significance.

“He included key historical events, providing detailed accounts and analyses of their impact on Irish society in his writings.

“His writings often explored the impact of emigration on Irish society.”

Well known Kinawley teacher and historian Paddy Maguire was MC for the night and other speakers include historians, John B. Cunningham, Seamas MacAnnaidh and Packie McArdle who shared his memories of Eddie Anderson.