Clancarty Trench

30/08/2024

Another step forward today in the Clancarty book project - the website I had for "Guinness Down Under" has been re-built to include "Clancarty" and then both of the books joined under the website for the publishing company we set up, Eyeglass Press Ltd. So now you will find everything under https://eyeglasspress.com Happy viewing.

19/08/2024

I've been in touch with various news media outlets in Ireland and one of those emails has borne fruit! See image attached and read Dave O'Connell's article at this link https://connachttribune.ie/new-zealand-historian-tells-the-story-of-the-family-dynasty-from-garbally-house/ # And the story is also on the Tribune's page https://www.facebook.com/ConnachtTribune/ Thanks Dave. Talk. Write. Repeat!

14/08/2024

Another milestone! The proof copy of the book has arrived and it looks very good, but then I am somewhat biased! The book designer in Hamilton, Daniela Catucci, and Glen and I had a good look at it yesterday.

26/07/2024

Another step forward - the first proof copy is on its way! From Amazon who concentrate on retail market. There should be another one from Ingram Spark (who are effectively wholesalers) soon. I'll keep you posted when the book goes on public sale.

20/06/2024

Something of a red-letter day this week with the finalisation of the cover design for the Clancarty book. The designer Daniela Catucci of Hamilton worked with several possibilities which were considered by family, friends, librarians and bookshop staff. Eventually the final combination emerged strong and clear. The image is the south wall of Garbally House, the former home of the Trench family, and comes from Robert Riddell a Ballinasloe photographer, to whom I am greatly indebted. Hope you like it!

11/06/2024

Hello Clancarty followers. I thought I should just acknowledge here the passing last week after a long illness of an Irish writer Joe Joyce who had become a personal friend. Joe wrote a brilliant book on the Guinness family simply entitled "The Guinnesses" and I met him in Dublin in 2015. We clicked straight away and had a great chat. We kept in touch over the years and then he released another great story "1691 A Novel". It is a fictionalised account of the final battles for the soul of Ireland between England's King James and the Dutch usurper Protestant King William. The Trench family of Galway feature in the story and a piece of it has found its way into my book on the Clancarty Trench families. Joe was a gifted writer and convivial company. I was looking forward to meeting him again when we visit Ireland in October. But sadly that will not happen.

14/05/2024

Hello to the followers of this Clancarty Trench page. Big news today. It's time for a change of profile picture and we now have the third Earl of Clancarty William Frederick Le Poer Trench (1803-72). He was much admired by many in Ballinasloe, so much so that two years after his death the citizens of the town clubbed together and erected a statue of him. When troubles hit Ireland in the 1921 Republicans beheaded the statue, sawed off his nose, and threw the head through shop window of the Trench family's agent Mr. Rothwell. The head is now in safe keeping at St. Joseph's College, Garbally. The headless statue was demolished in 1958.
The other news is that the text of my new book "Clancarty: the high times and humble of a noble Irish family" went off to a book designer yesterday. Daniela in Hamilton will work her magic and in a couple of months time the book will be uploaded onto Ingram Spark and Amazon. I'll keep you briefed on its progress onto the market. Best wishes to you all. Rod S.

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18/12/2023

Hello to all you good followers of the Clancarty Trench page. I'm happy to say that I have at last completed the first draft of the book. The working title is "Clancarty: the high times and humble of a noble Irish family". Next is quite a bit of editing and tidying up the script, "peer" reviews, organising pictures, reference notes, index etc. As well, there is discussion with online publishers to see what's the best course of action, and layout and formatting. Not forgetting a marketing plan and maybe some pages on a website. Heaven knows how long all that will take - six to nine months at least. Stay tuned!

01/07/2023

Time for a change of profile picture. The new image is the 2nd Earl of Clancarty, Richard Le Poer Trench (1767-1837). He held several positions in the English government and served as a diplomat in Europe for ten years. Probably the star of the Clancarty story.

08/03/2023

Researcher-author Rod Smith working on current project - The Clancarty Story. There's lots of paper, books, and ideas - and fortunately there is a plan! And it's working! Photo by Glen the family photographer.

08/03/2023

The cover photo on this page is the main house at Garbally where the Trench family lived from the late 1600s until about 1918. In fact the house pictured is the second Garbally House, built after fire destroyed the first house in 1818. From 1922 until the present, Garbally has been the home of St. Josephs College. The photo was kindly sent by Nuala O'Connor author of "Becoming Belle", a fine publication telling the story of one of the stars of the Clancarty family (see pictures attached). The inset picture is William Power Keating Trench, the first Earl of Clancarty 1741-1805. I'll update his picture with successor Earls from time to time.

08/03/2023

Welcome to the Clancarty Trench page. The page is a forum for anybody interested in the family history of the Trench family of Garbally, Ballinasloe, County Galway. I'm currently researching the family and writing a book. You are welcome to make any comments, suggestions, etc that you think I should consider. If you wish we can communicate by email. Contact me at glenrod6004 at xtra.co.nz. Thanks and best wishes. Rod Smith.