' When an old person dies, a library burns to the ground' — old African proverb.

It is said that there is a book in everybody's story, and a library in an old person's story. When we lose a member of our community we lose their stories and their knowledge of our past history – and this is a better source of information than any cold book.

Members of the Castleisland and District Culture and Heritage Society are currently undertaking the collection of folklore in the area. In the last half century this country has changed so much so there has never been such an importance placed on recording how things used to be.

"We are calling on all of the senior members of society who would like to share any stories, poems, personal memories, songs, tales, myth, legend, folk drama, riddles, proverbs, sayings and a variety of verses or perhaps art and crafts, dance, music, custom, ritual and belief, or even information on old paths or roads through townlands to help us preserve the local folklore of our area," said project co-ordinator and archaeologist, Maggie Prendiville.

"For people interested and willing to contribute the process is very easy. A member of the society will go and visit interviewees in their homes or wherever they are most comfortable and, at a time of their choosing. Using a small voice recorder we will record the conversation on whatever topic it may be. The society would like to ensure anyone thinking of contributing that nothing will be done with the recordings without the consent of the interviewee, at present we wish to simply record folklore for posterity."

Anyone who would like to contribute or knows someone who may be interested in contributing can contact either Maggie Prendiville (086) 0527166 or Mike Kenny (087) 2409026.

"People who don't cherish their elderly have forgotten whence they came and whither they go. - Ramsey Clark," Ms Prendiville concluded.