I was lucky enough to grow up on a small traditional farm in the Wicklow hills during the 1960s. I feel this connection with nature and a very traditional way of life ultimately led to my career as a holistic therapist and also fostered my other great passions in life, namely family history research, and recording and preserving our local history and heritage.

Book- Aghowle Where The Divil Ate The Tinker By Margaret Connolly

In December 2017, after 6 years of research  I  published my local history book titled Aghowle Where The Divil Ate The Tinker which records the history of the townland where I grew up, and tells the story of the traditional farming community that lived on the slopes beneath Carrick mountain, where their ancestors had farmed for centuries.

About the Book

In this book, I record the history of the townland of Aghowle, which lies about 4 miles from the village of Ashford on the slopes of Carrick Mountain. Using recorded memories and historical documents to tell the story of the townland from the 17th century up to the 1970s when the close knit farming community that had existed there for centuries was to disappear completely.

Stories are told of local legends, traditions and lore; good and bad landlords; famine, eviction and forced emigration; impacts on the townland from the 1798 Rebellion, the Land League and two World Wars; local persons and their recollections; and of course, how it came about that The Divil Ate The Tinker.

The 10 farmhouses that were still occupied in 1901 are presented in detail and the lives of those that lived within them are traced through several centuries including in many cases the stories of where  their descendants ended up across the world.

Copies are  available in Wicklow from:

Bridge Street Books Wicklow Town, in shop and online

Ann Duffy Florist Newtownmountkennedy Wicklow

Blessington Tourist Office Co. Wicklow, 

The Village Bookshop Greystones 

Barker and Jones Naas Co. Kildare

The book which is published by Applefield Publishing contains 370 pages and has more than 150 photographs and illustrations throughout including a colour section and full index.

Purchase the book online  below

The book costs €18 and weighs 1 kg.

To purchase 1 book including postage within Ireland is €27.00

To purchase 1 book including postage to Europe is €29.00

To purchase 1 book including postage to anywhere else in the world is €33.50

To purchase please click on paypal link below and enter the required amount in price per item box .

If you would like additional information about the book, or encounter any problems with the purchase you can email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Reviews of the Book

Review by Paul Clements in the Irish Times

Local history round-up: Exploring the stories of the Gap of Dunloe (irishtimes.com)

 The book was featured on The Talking History show on Newstalk Radio, where Patrick Geoghegan interviewed Margaret about the book, to listen to the interview see below

https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-talking-history/best-april-history-books-part-two

Feature by David Medcalfe Independent Newspaper Group.

https://www.independent.ie/.../capturing-history-of...

Some Praise for the book

“This is a fascinating account of the history of this farming community. The accounts of the various families are so well researched from original sources that they paint a vivid and personal picture of the area and its people over the centuries". 
Richard Nairn, ecologist and writer