Clogheen inspires British author Jim
An English author has published a book inspired by his lockdown stay in his father’s home village of Clogheen.
Jim Landers, 51, from Nottingham in England, decided to visit Ireland after he was laid off from his job as a healthcare project manager in April.
He received redundancy and decided to spend it touring Ireland, visiting his mother’s native Galway and ended up in Clogheen where his father was born.
While stuck in the village he decided to put pen to paper and began writing Lardoolin, a book for children between the ages of six and eleven years old.
“It’s amazing what long dog walks and quality reflection time can do with the imagination,” said Landers.
He completed the book in July - it is a fantasy set during the horror of the Great Famine in 1840s Ireland. His story is centred around three fairies who are sent on a mission from the mythical land of Tirfothuinn who are tasked with saving the starving people.
“But there is an evil witch who haunts a local lough, who will oppose their plan and who is responsible for cursing the crops to fail,” he added.
“The fairies will need the help of five children, but all of the children must believe in fairies if they are to break the evil curse of the witch, Petticoat Loose.
“The fairies choose a boy called Lardoolin and a wonderful sheepdog called Reigh, to make the plan happen as well as the children from the orphanage outside the village.
“But only three children believe in fairies and they must interact with other characters such as Lardoolin, his mother Ma’ and Reigh, as well as the fairies to save the people of Ireland.
“A magical pocket watch, special herbal dog treats made by Ma’ and a powerful magical poem, all of which will be important to defeating the witch.”
Landers said that the character of Ma’ is based on his grandmother Margaret Landers and Lardoolin was the name of his great- great- grandfather, who worked as an undertaker during the famine.
“Reigh cemetery was used there during the Famine for mass burial,” Jim explained.
“The history and landmarks of the town and the role of my relative spawned the initial ideas, which then grew whilst out walking the dog,” the author said. “During the night I’d wake up still getting a few more ideas.”