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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Fireworks and Festivals…

Posted on 27/10/2015 by fionaconlonmckenna

Marita with Nicola Pierce, Brian Gallagher and Grainne Clear. Photo by ROCSHOT

It’s that time of year again, the Children’s Book Festival, when I am travelling all over the place, meeting people and talking about books.

I had great fun at the Red Line Festival, talking in the Civic Theatre in Tallaght with author friends Nicola Pierce and Brian Gallagher and interviewer Grainne Clear about how and why we all love researching and writing about history.

Fireworks Wexford Opera Festival 2015 Then I packed my bags and went down to Wexford for a few days during the Wexford Opera Festival. I had a wonderful evening in Wexford’s Library where journalist Tom Mooney and I discussed writing and met lots of interested writers and readers. Next day it was the kids’ and schools’ turn and I sure got to meet plenty of them at two packed out events in the library.

Wexford was buzzing and I joined all the crowds down on the waterfront watching the spectacular firework display which launched the annual opera festival. The streets of the city were thronged as it was such a warm autumn night. There is opera everywhere in Wexford town and lots of events – with some art too.

Marita, Wexford Library October 2015

I visited a great art exhibition held upstairs in Greenacres’ gallery with pieces by some of my favourite Irish sculptors, John Behan and Eamonn Ceannt.

The next day I talked in Enniscorthy Library to a lovely gang before heading off to meet my author friend, Don Conroy, for lunch… and a big chat about books…

The Children’s Book Festival will continue until the end of October with lots of fun events in libraries and book shops all around the country.

Celebrations for 25 years of Under the Hawthorn Tree!

Posted on 28/05/2015 by fionaconlonmckenna

It’s hard to believe that it is 25 years since Under the Hawthorn Tree was first published.

The O’Brien Press organised a lovely big event in Hodges Figgis Book shop on Dawson Street in Dublin to mark the occasion. Amazing kids and their teachers from three schools came along to meet me.

Everyone had lots of questions and I had a brilliant time, so thanks to everyone.

25 years on and I still love writing, have lots of pictures in my head and new stories I want to write…

Marita at 25 anniversary of Hawthorn event

The History Detectives at the Mountains to Sea Festival

Posted on 21/03/2015 by fionaconlonmckenna

I had a wonderful time in Dun Laoghaire, at the Mountains to Sea Festival talking to lots of great kids, in a packed Pavilion Theatre, about writing and researching history.

My partners in crime were writers Brian Gallagher and Nicola Pierce. Get three writers together talking about one of their favourite topics and it’s going to be fun, revealing and crazy.

We went off for a long lunch, still chatting madly and did it all again with another session in the new DLR LexIcon Library.

Lots of great events on, so check it out if you get a chance!

Marita, Brian Gallagher and Nicola Pierce

Grainne Clear, Marita, Brian Gallagher, Nicola Pierce and Sarah Webb

Today FM’s Facebook post on Under the Hawthorn Tree

Posted on 03/03/2015 by fionaconlonmckenna

I’m not on Facebook myself but heard through my kids that Today FM has posted the original cover of my book Under the Hawthorn Tree on their Facebook page asking who read it as a child. I am delighted with the huge, positive response to the post. Would you believe it, I wrote the book twenty five years ago!

Original Irish cover by Donald Teskey

It was written for my own children with little thought of it getting published. I’m mad about history and wanted to tell the story of Ireland’s Great Famine, in a way they would understand. I heard of three small skeletons from the time of the Famine being found in a field, buried under a hawthorn tree. Suddenly I had a story and Eily, Michael and Peggy and their baby sister were on the page, and I couldn’t stop writing. It was crazy as I wrote the book in 12 weeks. My own son was only a baby and I was still doing night feeds and life was pretty hectic.

I sent the book to a publisher and well…talk about luck!

I am so eternally grateful to everyone who has read the book, bought the book, passed it around their families, and used it in their schools. It is still being read by lots of children and readers of all ages around the world. My original readers are now reading it with their own kids. It is a very special book and enabled me to work as a writer. I am so proud of Under the Hawthorn Tree and its amazing 25 years!