‘Holycross -The Awakening of the Abbey’ by Willie Hayes has won the prestigious Tipperiana –Tipperary Book of the Year Award 2011
On last Saturday evening, 29th January, at a function in the ‘Abymill’, Fethard, the 2011 award was presented to the author, coincidentally a native of Fethard.
This is the 10th occasion on which the annual award, called the Tipperarania Award, was presented by the Fethard Historical Society.
Among the other popular 2011publications on Tipperary subjects in the running for the award were Doyle, The Greatest Hurling Story Ever Told, by John Harrington, and Father John Kenyon, The Rebel Priest, by Tim Boland.
At the Fethard function, author Willie Hayes was presented with a pottery reproduction of the owl with outstretched wings that is on the north choir wall of Holycross abbey church. This notable carving of the life-size barn owl is the most realistic of the stone carvings to be seen in the abbey church which has a wealth of exquisitely carved decorative features. This apt pottery trophy, designed by the well-known Fethard potter, Dóirín Saurus, has the owl mounted on a stand containing the script Holycross, The Awakening of The Abbey, by William J. Hayes, Tipperariana Book of The Year 2011.
‘Holycross the Awakening of the Abbey’ was launched in November 2011 to huge critical acclaim, and the first print run sold out completely in a number of weeks. A reprint of the paperback edition is now available in outlets in Holycross, Thurles and Nenagh.
We pass on our congratulations to Willie on receiving this very well deserved prize which is a just recognition of his immense contribution to Holycross Abbey and indeed to the parish of Holycross/ Ballycahill.
