Ireland – the land of song, of sadness and joy: the land where people have survived the worst and can still laugh at themselves. There is something about the Irish spirit that is infectious.
We were fortunate enough to visit Cobh (pronounced Cove) in the south of Ireland last year and will visit again next year. It was the last port of call for the Titanic on its fatal voyage, and where the Lusitania was torpedoed in the waters nearby. The town is full of history.
Many Irishmen and women ended up in Australia, either voluntarily fleeing poverty and starvation just as Brigid did in ‘The Girl from County Clare’, or involuntarily as convicts. Whatever the reason, people with Irish blood can be found in many parts of the world.
I did a lot of research when creating the character of Brigid to the point where I understood her. I knew how she felt about things and wasn’t surprised to hear words in my head that came from her mouth as I followed her journey across Ireland to London, her point of departure.
In Cobh, every time a cruise ship arrives from Australia, the townsfolk have an “Australia Day”. The flags wave, the bands play, and there is music in all the pubs. It is just as well we did the history tours in the morning and ate well at lunchtime before we found the pub with the best Irish band and spent the afternoon singing, clapping, dancing, and oh yes, drinking until the time came to reboard the ship.
After having such an enjoyable day in Cobh, a little part of me wished Brigid’s ship had sailed from Cobh – that I could feel as though I was standing where she had once stood, but at least I could take away the sounds of her country ringing in my ears – the lilting Irish voices and the traditional songs that maybe she sang too.
Are there any Irish readers who would like to share their story with me? You can comment below.
By Vicky Adin,
Vicky - 7 years ago
Dear Robbie198
Thank you for sharing your amazing story and I’m so glad to hear you have recovered from your ordeal and to know you are still writing. It is the support of our fellow writers and our readers that keep us going. Well done.
Thank you to for saying you enjoyed my books – ‘The Girl from Country Clare’ about Brigid the Irish lass and ‘Gwenna’ the story of a Welsh girl.
Good luck with your writing.
Vicky