New Ross author pens fictional JFK novel
AN award-winning New Ross author is about to publish a book of historical fiction based on President John F Kennedy’s visit to New Ross in 1963.
Michael Casey, who grew up on Priory Street in New Ross, from where he watched the late president pass by in a motorcade in 1963, is publishing the book The Visit next month. He has previously published a novel, Come Home, Robbie, a book of non-fiction, Ireland’s Malaise and an award-winning small book of short fiction called Treadmill.
The first of Casey’s poetry collections, Frescoes of Assisi, is in press, while several of his individual short stories and poems have won awards, both internationally and in Ireland.
The Visit revolves around the frantic preparations for the visit of John F Kennedy and these observations are largely seen through the eyes of Martin Moroney and Eileen Blayney who are beginning to fall in love.
The Mayor of the town has to use all of considerable skills to keep a sense of order and decorum as excitement builds to fever pitch.
He knows that the eyes of the world will be on the town and its officials. An aggressive CIA advance party causes much grief and forces the Town Council to change its elaborate plans for security reasons. The events are keenly observed by Martin and Eileen who ‘come of age’ during the novel against the background of the momentous visit.
In a dark subplot, four days before the visit a man checks into the local hotel and registers under the name of L.H. Oswald. Despite many difficulties, the visit is an outstanding success.
Five months later President John F Kennedy is assassinated and the novel charts how the town goes into mourning and how Martin and Eileen are forced to confront newly-awakened demons.
Casey said he wrote the book inspired by his memories of this golden era in the town’s rich history.
He said: ‘I have wanted to write this book for a long time since I hail from the town JFK visited all those years ago. I still remember JFK passing by in a motorcade on his way out to Dunganstown. It was an extraordinary time and I still sometimes discuss the events with Eoin Minihan and Brian Dunphy.’
Casey has published articles and essays in The Irish Times and the Sunday Times and two of his full length plays have been performed by The Umbrella Theatre Company on stages in Dublin, as well as eight short plays, one of which was featured on radio. One of his one-act plays was recently performed in the Henrik Ibsen Museum in Oslo.
The book is coming on sale on Amazon in November for €20 and is published by Anaphora Literary Press.