Frank McCourt, author of Angela’s Ashes, and his brothers Malachy and Michael, unveiled the Leonard Collection at the University of Limerick Library on Wednesday, 22 October. McCourt recently gave the University of Limerick Foundation €150,000 for the purchase of the Collection, in memory of his mother.
Containing over 4,000 items, the collection is the work of Father John Leonard who spent 33 years gathering books, periodicals, paintings, prints and engravings on Limerick city and county. The collection is considered to be exceptional in its quality and variety University President Dr Roger Downer said: “Seldom, if ever, has a community had its authors and its history collected together so comprehensively, and the historical and literary importance of the collection will add greatly to the University’s library.”
Frank McCourt said he “heard that Father John Leonard wanted to dispose of his enormous collection of materials on, by, about Limerick and I wanted to fly over, pack the lot in boxes and take the lot home with me.”
He said he was delighted to hear the University would house the collection if someone would put up “a few dollars”. He said: “I saved my pennies and, in my mother’s name, hoped to donate Father Leonard’s magnificent collection to the University”.
