Tour and book launch to honour Mary Ward this Saturday

This Saturday, August 31 is the 150th anniversary of Mary Ward's death.

At 3.30pm at Oxmantown Mall, Birr, Brian Kennedy of Birr Historical Society will lead a tour in her honour to mark the day, while at 5pm in the Courtyard Café of Birr Castle, the reprint of Mary Ward's 'Sketches with the Microscope’ will be launched.

There is introductory essays by Michael Byrne and John Feehan. Hardback issue and new jacket, €20.

All are welcome. The book launch is at 5 pm in the Courtyard Café, Birr Demesne. The book will be general sale from 1 September at Birr Demesne, Offaly History Centre and Midland Book, Tullamore.

Mary Ward is described as an artist, naturalist, and astronomer - a woman for our time.

Mary Ward takes her place alongside the Rosses, Jolys and Stoneys in the King’s County/Offaly people of science gallery. Born Mary King, at Ballylin, Ferbane on 27 April 1827 she died in a shocking accident at Birr on 31 August 1869 (see our blog of 24 August 2019). 

Mary Ward’s Sketches with the microscope in a letter to a friend, first published in Birr in 1857, is now a prized example of provincial printing and almost impossible to obtain. Since the 1980s the public has come to know more of her work and her expertise as a highly skilled microscopist. 

Sketches with the microscope ranks as the finest book printed in the county in the nineteenth century and is now deservedly reprinted for an engaged public.

The reprint is a faithful full-colour facsimile of the original publication and features new introductory essays by Michael Byrne and John Feehan. It is the work of Brosna Press of Ferbane and much thought and effort has been put into reproducing this rare Birr printing by seeking to adhere as faithfully as possible to the original book, while providing new and scholarly introductions on Mary Ward and the extent of her achievement.

Offaly History has worked with Caroline Conway and Tina Claffey in creating a greater awareness of the work of Mary Ward. All are indebted to the pioneering research of Dr Owen Harry, the long-standing commitment by Birr Historical Society to commemorate Mary Ward in Birr, and to the exhibition of Ward’s work as part of a Birr Castle and Science Museum project in 1988. Supported by Creative Ireland.