Something old in something new
A stunning new book that showcases the best of a collection of nostalgic items from a Dundalk man's award-winning website is being launched tomorrow.
Brian McMahon from Marian Park, the man behind BrandNewRetro.ie, has put together the best of more than 3,000 scans from old Irish magazines from the 1960s onwards to create his magnificent book that features many Dundalk and Louth memories.
Brian said: 'Some examples of content include a selection of old adverts from the 1960s for Clarks shoes showing 'made in
Dundalk', as well as old adverts for Harp Larger, PJ Carrolls and Dingo Jeans.
'There is also a fantastic photo from the Argus taken by Ken Finegan showing Steve Staunton playing for the Clans against Kilkerley in the Louth SFC semi final 1986.
'The Drogheda fanzine 'Almost News' edited by Tony Clayton-Lea, and the comic 'Gakbag' by Arthur Mathews are also featured. Dundalk FC are in there too'.
The cover of the book was photographed by Farndreg-born photographer Joanne Betty Conlon and Mickey Kelleher from pixelated.ie and features the site's magazines at the NewsVendor stall at O'Connell Street. Brian did a deal with the stand owners and did the shoot between 5 and 7.30 on a Sunday morning last April.
The book is a culmination of the previous five years work on Brian's blog BrandNewRetro.ie.
It all started in April 2011, a month after Brian's father Pat died. He went searching for some old photos of Pat in the attic and realised it was time to sort out his own memorabilia and he began digitising content he created from the late 1970s and 80s including pages from Too Late, a Dundalk fanzine Brian produced with his brother Eamonn and digitising recordings of Dundalk groups Brian was in, like Choice.
He said: 'I soon extended the digitising process to include other Irish magazines.
'The approach I took was to digitise rare and interesting content, which had no online presence, from my collection of magazines from the pre-internet days.
'My brother Eamonn and my mother Patricia kindly donated their own collection of mags to augment my existing sizeable collection'.
And it snowballed from there, with more and more items discovered through early morning rummages at markets and stalls.
Brian thought it'd be lovely to bring the best of it all together in one beautiful collection, in the format in which they first appeared and are best appreciated - print.
Brian said: 'Last year I started a collaboration with my designer friend Joe Collins to produce a quality, contemporary, stylish book which would showcase these lost gems'.
The book contains 208 pages and over 700 scans. The launch takes place at the Workman's Club, Dublin at 6.30pm tomorrow (Thursday), where Dundalk firm Ovelle will be providing a goody bag with every purchase of the book.
The book is published through Liberties Press and the recommended retail price is €29.99.