In what is a truly remarkable and extraordinary real life account from the actual memoir of John Logan Power has been published by Callan Heritage Society in “John Logan Power, Memoirs of an Irish Pauper”
John Power spent 8 years in the Callan workhouse during the great famine of 1842, he was only 7 years of age when he was sent to it.
Workhouses were the last resort of the destitute poor from the 1840s-1920s, instituted by the English as part of the Poor laws.
177 years later one of his American descendants contacted Callan Heritage Society with the remarkable story of his life. This book is the result.
It is the story of how John Logan Power went from a pauper to Secretary of State of Mississippi, pausing en route to be a pioneering newspaper printer, Confederate Soldier, founder of schools, public servant, renowned philanthropist, and humanitarian.
The book has been edited by Joseph Kennedy in Callan Heritage Society and the book begins with the transcription of Power’s early memoirs, written as a young man safely established in America. He details life as a small boy in the Callan Workhouse, his journey across the Atlantic in 1850, and his early years in New York. It also contains an account by his great grandson, Prof. David Moreau, of the rest of Power’s life and eventful career.
Copies are available locally in Supervalue Callan and they can also be obtained for €10 + postage and packaging directly from Callan Heritage Society – please email info@callanheritage.org to reserve yours
More information about Callan Heritage Society can be found on their Facebook page or Website.
About Callan Heritage Society:
Callan Heritage Society was founded in 1982 to promote and encourage public interest in the history and antiquities of Callan and District, and connections with the county of Kilkenny. We are affiliated to the Kilkenny Archeological Society.
They research the history, archaeology and genealogy of Callan and its inhabitants. They protect buildings and other monuments of historical and architectural interest in the Callan area and develop public interest in them. They also publish pamphlets and other publications about Callan and District.
Callan Heritage Society meets at 8pm on the second Monday of every month at Droichead (formerly CBS), West St, Callan. New members are always welcome. (Meetings currently paused due to Covid-19)
