Drumshee series Cora Harrison, Children's Author Dragonfly books

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Dark Days at Drumshee

Dark Days at Drumshee‘"If, by chance, Conor O’Brien were to be killed, we’d have an easy victory," said the first voice softly.

"Wise men leave nothing to chance," said the second voice, a strange, metallic voice. 

"We must make sure that he is killed."

Alys shivered. These were dark and dangerous days…’


Cora Harrison writes:

Cora HarrisonI first got the idea for this book when I passed the ruins of Lemeanah Castle very early on a winter’s morning. I had often passed these ruins before, but on this particular morning the low sunlight was slanting in through the mullioned windows and lighting up the walls inside. I knew the history of the castle, of course, but now, suddenly, I peopled it with its last residents and with my own invented character: Alys from Drumshee.

Conor O’Brien was a confederate officer fighting against Oliver Cromwell’s army. He, his wife, Maire Rua and their six children lived at Lemeanah Castle during the battles between 1642 and 1651. My book tells the story of their last months at the castle.

The discovery of a little memorial plaque in Coad church nearby added to the story that was growing in my mind. I had great difficulty in reading it. It was very old and neglected and I would guess that these letters were carved by someone who spoke no English and who was just copying words from a piece of paper.

It read:

HERE LIES THE

BODIES OF MARY AND

SLANY NY BRIENDAUGH

TERS TO CONNOR OBRIEN

AND MARY BRIEN ALIAS

MAHON OFLEMINEAGH

ANND OMINI 1651

Once I had managed to make out the carving on the old stone and to read the date, the history books told me the rest of the story and now I knew why Conor O’Brien was on Inchicronan Pass on that bleak day in 1651.


Click here to read the first chapter of the book


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