In the process of liquidating IGSI's bookstore, we found a unique book in our inventory: Mid-Connacht: The Ancient Territory of Sliabh Lugha. Read this entire posting to find out why the book could be valuable to you. Written by Maire McDonnell-Garvey and published in 1995, the book was "meticulously researched" according to one reviewer. Here's a description from the cover of the book: Mid-Connacht is a comprehensive account of the Slieve Lugha area of Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Galway from earliest times to the break-up of the great estates in the early 20th century. The author takes us into the world of the secret societies of the early 19th century, into the cabins of the poor in the years of famine and into the crude schoolhouses where teachers fought against the odds to provide an education for deprived children. She vividly described the smouldering fires of Fenianism and the heady days of the Land War, and pays due tribute to the great personalities of the Ballaghaderreen area, among them, Mrs. Deane, Mother Arsenius, John Dillon, Edward Duffy and Fr. Denis O'Hara. This is an important work of local history meticulously researched by a native of the area.

But this isn't a book review. It's a lesson in supply and demand. The book is out of print, and the author is deceased. The supply is extremely limited, hence, you'll see asking prices well over $100. Here are a couple sites offering the book for sale:   www.amazon.co.uk/

Mid-Connacht-Ancient-Territory-Sliabh-Lugha/dp/1873437129 and  www.abebooks.co.uk/9781873437124/

Mid-Connacht-Ancient-Territory-Sliabh-Lugha-1873437129/plp

IGSI has FIVE copies of the book, all brand-new and in perfect condition. Because they appear to be more valuable than the original list price (around $20), the books have been removed from the online IGSI bookstore. We've made inquiries about selling them at used bookstores in both the U.S. and Ireland, but if you've ever sold pre-owned books you know one only gets a few nickels on the dollar. One option is to take the books along on the IGSI tour of Ireland and sell them at a bookstore in Galway. We'd rather share a bargain with one of our blog readers. For the next 72 hours or until all five copies are sold, we are offering the books for $25 each (postpaid within the U.S.) -- E-mail your order to the blog editor by Wednesday, September 2, and follow up by mailing your check to IGSI. Enjoy this great book and/or sell it for a profit (e.g., on eBay). Respond now to Blog@IrishGenealogical.org.