In 1937 the Land Commission divided the Gerrard Estate in Gibbstown into 22-acre farms, and among those to receive land were 59 Irish speaking families from the western counties of Cork, Donegal, Kerry and Mayo. They, in turn, gave up their farms to be divided among those who remained in these congested areas. Difficult decisions were made by elderly heads of families to accept the offer for the benefit of their children and future generations.

Ceann Scríbe Baile Ghib/Destination Baile Ghib is a bi-lingual book that features each family’s story as recounted by family members themselves. It gives an insight into the emotions their ancestors experienced as they faced the unfamiliar. For many, the heartache of bidding farewell to relatives and friends for what they knew was the final time showed immense courage and strength of character. Their sacrifice was immeasurable. The younger travellers were excited as they looked forward to a new adventure. However, the transition was not without challenges. Some families didn’t settle for one reason or another and returned to their old homesteads. It was a condition of the agreement with the Land Commission that they had a year to make up their minds. No stone was left unturned when it came to researching their journeys.

This book has been researched and written by Máire Uí Chasaide, Máire Ní Chonchúir, Anraí Mac Garaidh, Máirín Ní Shiadhail, Éilín Nic an tSithigh, and Máire Nic an tSithigh. Through intensive and painstaking research involving walking the highways and byways of the counties mentioned, trawling through their parish and civil records, visiting cemeteries, seeking out old newspaper articles and assembling a collection of photographs and family trees, this book of over 800 pages was brought to life.