THE dying wish of well-known historian, the late Patrick (Packie) Gilleece, will be realised when his book on Derrylin is officially launched at the end of the month.

Regarded as an 'elder' statesman in the areas of Aughnakillymaude and Derrylin, Packie had begun to conduct extensive research into the history of Derrylin before he passed away in January 2012.

While much of his work towards the book was unwritten, he left behind six cardboard boxes, filled with pictures and snippets of information from Derrylin's past.

In their last visit to Packie before his passing, his friends, Bryan Gallagher and Brian McManus recall how a "frail and vulnerable" Packie told them: "It would be great if you would put a shape on what's done of the book."

The two men have spent countless hours since Packie's death doing just that, working from the six boxes of information he left behind.

According to Mr. Gallagher, the book was to be Packie's 'magnum opus', following the success of his scholarly book about Aughnakillymaude.

"Packie was a highly intelligent man -- he could have been a professor at a university.

"Academics used to beat a path to his door to absorb some of his wisdom and knowledge.

"The sad thing is that Packie went to his grave with a lot of what he found out about Derrylin still in his head.

"He had been thinking about the book for many years and he had amassed a collection of disparate pieces which he hoped would form its basis. We think he eventually realised that he would never finished it for once he was heard to say: 'I think I spread my canvas too wide. There's enough material there for 10 books. I should have started this years ago'.

"We tried to remain true to his own prose and style.

"It was his dying wish that this book be completed and we hope that he would approve of what we have done."

'Derrylin: The Place And The People' will be launched at Blake's Restaurant, Derrylin on Monday, November 30 at 7.30pm.

Michael Harding will be the guest speaker.