Robert Dunbar

Posted on 26/07/2016 by fionaconlonmckenna

Robert Dunbar photo It was such sad news to hear of Robert’s death. The world of children’s books will certainly not be the same without him. He will be terribly missed by both writers and readers alike.

Robert Dunbar was like a bridge introducing readers to good books, his mission was to bring both writers and readers together. Wise, witty and funny, in his red duffle coat he was like a Santa Claus with his books that he loved and enthused over.

I cannot imagine a children’s book launch or summer school without him! He gave me huge support and encouragement from the beginning when Under the Hawthorn Tree was published and always encouraged my work. I valued his opinion and always loved to meet him and have a chat.

Over the years he made a special point of supporting Irish writers and their books. Children’s Literature was his lifelong passion and he never lost his enthusiasm for it. A brilliant academic and speaker, Robert always worked tirelessly to promote reading and to share his love of books with everyone.

On Stage-Under the Hawthorn Tree

Posted on 22/06/2016 by fionaconlonmckenna

20160617_164026 What an emotional experience to see Under the Hawthorn Tree staged by Northern Ireland’s wonderful theatre company, Cahoots, in the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh. I was so excited, as I had been very impressed when I attended the rehearsals in Belfast.

An amazing cast brought the story of Eily, Michael and Peggy to life. Music, song and the haunting Uileann pipes all added to the drama of one family’s fight to survive during Ireland’s Great Famine. The play was adapted by Charles Way and directed by Paul Bosco McEneaney.

The Ulster American Folk Park is a great place to stage it, as I as visited it to research my books. The Park now holds Hawthorn Days in the spring.

The play opened on Tuesday 21^st June and will run there until 1^st July. There are two shows a day and tickets must be booked with the Ulster American Folk Park.

Mountains to Sea and Ennis Book Club Festivals

Posted on 09/03/2016 by fionaconlonmckenna

I had a wonderful time in lovely Ennis talking at the Ennis Book Club Festival about Rebel Sisters and my writing. Lots of teachers, librarians and history students came along. The Ennis Book Club Festival’s varied programme was really excellent, with something to appeal to everyone.

I wish that I could have stayed longer but I had to rush back up home to Dublin on the train as I was talking at the Readers’ Day in Airfield in Dundrum, which is part of the Mountains to Sea Festival.

Airfield is one of my favourite places and was a wonderful setting for the Readers’ Day with the beautiful backdrop of the estate and gardens. Once home to the Overend sisters, it is now enjoyed and visited by so many people. It was lovely to listen to my friends Sinead Moriarty and Sheila O’Flanagan talk about their writing before I joined the crowd for lunch.

It was great to meet and talk to fellow 1916 enthusiast and writer David Kenny whose own book The Splendid Years about his great-aunt Maire Nic Shiubhlaigh, the Abbey actress, has just been published. The two of us could have stayed all afternoon talking about 1916. It is very heartening to see such a huge interest in the lives of the women of 1916.

This Sunday, March 13th at 4.00pm the fun continues in the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire for The Great Big Family Book Show as I join Eoin Colfer, Ryan Tubridy, Judy Curtin and Philip Ardagh to talk about our favourite children’s books!

Thank you so much to programme organisers Bert Wright and Sarah Webb from the Mountains to Sea DLR Book Festival for organising it all.

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Happy Christmas!

Posted on 24/12/2015 by fionaconlonmckenna

I cannot believe that another year has passed so quickly and here we are at Christmas.

It has been a busy book year writing Rebel Sisters and doing lots of book events all over the place and getting the chance to meet so many readers.
There were wonderful celebrations to mark 25 years since the publication of Under the Hawthorn Tree.

Children of the Famine trilogy Chinese editions The celebrations continue as it – alongside Wildflower Girl and Fields of Home – has just come out in China. I do hope readers there will enjoy ‘The Children of the Famine’ trilogy.

The Christmas tree is up; the house is decked out with holly and ivy from the garden. Even my dog, Buster, is getting into the festive spirit as he sits on my writing chair at my desk – with plans to write a book!!

Marita's dog, Buster Happy Christmas to all and wishing you a bright new year in 2016!

Big Celebrations for 25 years of Under the Hawthorn Tree

Posted on 17/11/2015 by fionaconlonmckenna

Big Celebrations for 25 years of Under the Hawthorn Tree at Smock Alley, Dublin!

What a special night with so many friends, book fans and family coming along to join in the celebrations for 25 years of Under the Hawthorn Tree. My wonderful publishers, The O’Brien Press, organised a very special night to mark the 25th Anniversary of its publication. It only seems like yesterday that the manuscript was dropped, with much trepidation and hope, into the letter box of O’Brien Press, book publishers. Michael O’Brien loved the book and before I knew it, young artist Donald Teskey was painting the cover and designing the wonderful chapter illustrations and my book was coming out.

The book was launched on the 23rd of May 1990 in the National Library of Ireland, Dublin by Dr Patricia Donlon, then Director of the National Library. Pat had been my lecturer in UCD when I did a course on children’s literature and kindly looked at my book. She recommended that I send it to The O’Brien Press, an Irish publisher who had just started developing a children’s list.

Walking into Smock Alley’s magical Winter Garden/Banqueting Hall to be met by so many friends and book fans was wonderful. There were hugs and chats and a great sense of emotion as Michael O’Brien, my publisher, talked about the book and gave me a very special gift of fine silver hawthorn twig necklace which I will always treasure.

Pat Donlon and I had a great conversation in front of a big audience about the wonderful journey Under the Hawthorn Tree has made since it was first published. It was overwhelming to see so many faces there that have been part of that journey and to think of all the wonderful things that have happened to my story of three children, Eily, Michael and Peggy, all desperate but determined to survive the Great Irish Famine.

The event was part of the Dublin Book Festival and there was lots of wine and photographs and stories. Afterwards we all headed for the Clarence Hotel, where the party continued until late into the night.

It was a magical night and one this very grateful author will never forget.

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