The Story of The Cope Paperback

Written by Partick Bonner 

The Story of the Templecrone Co-operative Society is one of triumph against almost impossible odds. Founded in 1906 in Cleendra, a small rocky townland four miles outside Dungloe in west Donegal, the Cope, as it is universally and affectionately known became one of the largest co-operatives in Ireland. it was acclaimed by the Irish Co-operative movement and by commentators across the world as a model of what a determined community could achieve.

The story is one of a resilient community working together in the spirit of cooperation and courage in the face of adversity. The central figure Paddy the Cope, who left school aged nine for the hiring fair Strabane and for Scotland when he was 16 where he worked, like so many Donegal people at the time, on the land and in the oil shale and coal mines. However, he never forgot where he came from and who his people where.

This book illustrates the Cope's First 100 years through new research material, personal memories and over 400 photographs