Thoughts from Author

From my earliest recollection, storytelling has always been an integral part of daily life.

Back in the Old Country, Uncle Seamus with dulcet tones and gifted diction would effortlessly teleport me into his magical world of Irish mythology where I joined my ancient ancestors “Cú Faoil” helping those red haired superheroes “Tuath Dé Danann” to save the world from death and destruction by King Balor and the Fomorians.

My great grandmother, Maria Teresa would take me into the domain of Donn the phantom horseman, aided and abetted by desperate druids, coming out at night to rob and kidnap the unsuspecting innocent folk living around our farm in the Gougane Barra.

Many a time I found myself frantically swimmimg out to the island in Gougane Lake to rescue a hapless neighbour and thwart Donn’s wicked endeavours, making sure that good triumphed over villainy.

Now many call it “stuff and nonsense” but to those who practice the ancient Irish art of storytelling, its known as the blarney, and its in my DNA, for ‘better or worse’.

As a young fella, when I went to live in Canada, I thought that my storytelling days were over before they had begun. However I soon realised that Canadian folk also loved to hear a good old yarn or two, especially when the nights are long and the snow deep.

With the passing of time, and the onset of old age, my best buddies have been pestering me to write down the most popular stories for posterity. 

Thus after much deliberation, dilly-dallying and some doodling, I have finally decided to write a series of books, the first of which is now available for your enlightening entertainment and hopefully a little education.

The Book

I thought it best to begin the first book with a brief introduction to my early ancestorial history, remembering that I have relatives going back some 2,000 years. This is followed by a colourful journey around my family and farmyard friends, with an amusing anecdote and hidden message for each.

By introducing the joy of wordplay and the rhythm & rhyme of whimsical words, I have tried to capture the spirit of the spoken within its written form. 

Through heartwarming exciting adventures full of gentle humour, unforgettable characters, and magical worlds, I hope to encourage children to develop their own imaginations and creativity.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, I wish to guide, my young audience to explore the timeless themes of family, friendship and community. To embrace the world we live in, enjoying and respecting our different cultures and traditions, creating a more inclusive and equitable world for all children.

 I do hope you enjoy.