La Touche history launched

"It weighs a kilogram!" the author of 'The La Touche Family in Ireland' quipped at its local launch in the Kilcullen Heritage Centre tonight.

Michael McGinley's book, published by the La Touche Legacy Committee in Greystones, is more than just weight, though, detailing as it does extensively the history of a Huguenot family which fled from religious persecution in France and subsequently made a major contribution to Ireland in banking, politics and property development.

Pastor Robert Dunlop of Brannockstown, a longtime researcher of the Kildare branch of the family which lived in Harristown House, said he was delighted at the 'diligent research' of the author, which had introduced 'the bigger picture' of the family.

"I am particularly indebted to his original research on Percy La Touche, who had a reputation of being a bit of a playboy, but Michael's treatment is very balanced."

Pastor Dunlop, who recently completed 40 years working in the 'very historic place' that is the Baptist Church of Brannockstown founded by John La Touche of Harristown, also said that local people would be very interested in the 'small but very interesting' section based on the diaries of Emily La Touche, who died very young.

What Pastor Dunlop concluded by describing as 'a darlin' book that is not to be missed' also details the tragic affair of Rose La Touche and John Ruskin, and the political activities of the family at the turn of the nineteenth century.



The author recalled how he and his colleagues on the small committee developing the project were in very low spirits some three years ago, when there was no prospect of sponsorship.

"We didn't know then that George Jones and his friends in the La Touche Legacy Committee would go out and get funding, but Robert Dunlop said anyway 'we're doing this book because we want to'," he said. "I also knew that I had a great source in Robert; when you are doing something like this, you have to go to the person who knows."

George Jones of the La Touche Legacy Committee said the book had been a labour of love for the author. "There's no financial gain in it for him, but he has done it tremendously well and it is a book of authority on the La Touche family," he said.

Peter Garnier of Carlow, a descendant of the La Touches, said the family had always tried to contribute to the society in which they lived.

"I've looked through this very fine book and I have seen many faces of people whom I have also seen in the flesh," he said. "When I get a chance to read it through, I will obviously learn a lot that I didn't know."

The 'La Touche Family in Ireland' is available for €35.



Katherine Garnier and her father Peter Garnier, descendants of the La Touche family; with the author of 'The La Touche Family in Ireland', Michael McGinley, and Pastor Robert Dunlop of Brannockstown.



Brendan Martin, Joe Hayes and George Jones of the La Touche Legacy Committee.

Local people turned out in force to support the launch.

— Brian Byrne.













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