Two years ago, a curious book surfaced in the Scituate Historical Society Archives. Penned between 1815 and 1855 by Patrick O’Keeffe, this tiny volume revealed itself to be a mysterious repository of Irish Heritage. Exuberantly handwritten in Irish and English, the book includes poetry, folktales, anecdotes, calendrical lore, and a shoemaker’s private musings, admonitions and cryptic mentions of social gatherings. A curious book indeed!
Rediscovery of the manuscript at the historical society – and its archivist’s efforts to have the book translated – led to the Eire Society of Boston and scholar of Irish Brian Frykenberg. Safeguarded for years within the Scituate Historical Society’s Archives, the secrets of Patrick O’Keeffe’s Book have remained largely unexplored – until now!
Please join us on Saturday, November 4, 2023, 3:00 pm, at the Grand Army Hall in Scituate, MA to view this treasure and to hear Brian Frykenberg’s intriguing findings! Light refreshments will be served.
Suggested donation: $15 per person
Reserve your seat(s) by clicking below.
This program sponsored in part by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council, supporting cultural opportunities throughout the Commonwealth.
