The late Dennis Dinneen left an invaluable legacy to the people of the Lee Valley in his photographic record of events and characters from the 50s, 60s and 70s. In the late 80s, the negatives from Dennis’ photographic collection were given by his wife to another well-known local photographer Seán Mac Suibhne. Following some years and much persuasion, Sean decided that now was the time to embark on collating the huge collection of negatives and choosing some 500 pictures to compile into the book – Muskerry Through the Lens of Dennis Dinneen.
In June, Seán Mac Suibhne on behalf of Macroom Senior Citizens applied for grant assistance toward the publication of this document of social history for the Muskerry and Lee Valley region. Macroom Senior Citizens were approved €6,800 towards the publication costs, along with some voluntary labour in scanning and naming the people in many of the pictures.
On the 11th November, the book was launched in the Senior Citizens Centre in Macroom with great praise to all involved, and particularly to the family of Dennis Dinneen. The proceeds from the book will go towards the development of a Day Care Centre for Alzheimer’s sufferers in the grounds of the Macroom Senior Citizens Centre. The book is available to purchase on www.localbooks.ie or in bookshops in Macroom. It also featured on RTE’s Nationwide on Wednesday, 21st December.. Take a look at it here.
