Through Fagan's Gates, by Tom Higgins, was published in 2001 to coincide with the centenary of the Church of  the Holy Rosary, Castlebar. It contains an account of the building of the Church, and also records many events in the social history of the parish upto the date of publication.

It is a very well researched book, and contains a lot of inofrmation about the parish and life therein which would not be widely known by the people of the town.

The book briefly touches on Pre Christian times, the Normans and the time of The Penal Laws in the town. A chapter is also dedicated to Castlebar in pre and post famine times. The book then discusses the building of the church, which was a huge taks at  that time. Other issues such as Education, life in the 20th century in the town and also the second Vatican Council are examined.

This is a must have book for all those interested in the history of the town. It is a much more detailed book in terms of text and matter than the previously reviewed, 'Castlebar in Old Photographs' ( which was more of a pictorical history of the town). Both books, in tandem would provide a very complete picture of the town in the late 19th and 20 th century.

Through Fagan's Gates is available from our website, www.mayobooks.ie