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The Drowning of Innocence
“You are in my heart always. Not a day goes by when I don’t think of you”
These sentiments, expressed on an old postcard found at a Dublin flea market in 2010, unearth for Alannah the ill-fated love story of Micheál and Eileen set during the Irish War of Independence and Civil War.
Mirroring the prophetic words of W.B. Yeats ‘things fall apart’, Micheál and Eileen are immersed in the events of the time, full of passion, courage, idealism and hope. Tragedy ensues and it is left to Alannah to reconcile the outcome a century later in a way that brings her intimately and surprisingly in contact with both Micheál and Eileen.
Set in County Cork, this historical novel describes the turmoil of a people in their quest for identity.
“This is a beautiful, lovingly-crafted book and reminds me of the classic haunting narratives of Walter Macken: Evocative settings, sympathetic characters, important issues, an intriguing and beguiling story, told with palpable compassion. Pádraig is a real writer who creates a world, takes the reader by the hand and leads us through an adventure into the heart of who we really are."
Dave Andrews, Author “Building a Better World”
Further information at www.patrickogorman.co.uk
These sentiments, expressed on an old postcard found at a Dublin flea market in 2010, unearth for Alannah the ill-fated love story of Micheál and Eileen set during the Irish War of Independence and Civil War.
Mirroring the prophetic words of W.B. Yeats ‘things fall apart’, Micheál and Eileen are immersed in the events of the time, full of passion, courage, idealism and hope. Tragedy ensues and it is left to Alannah to reconcile the outcome a century later in a way that brings her intimately and surprisingly in contact with both Micheál and Eileen.
Set in County Cork, this historical novel describes the turmoil of a people in their quest for identity.
“This is a beautiful, lovingly-crafted book and reminds me of the classic haunting narratives of Walter Macken: Evocative settings, sympathetic characters, important issues, an intriguing and beguiling story, told with palpable compassion. Pádraig is a real writer who creates a world, takes the reader by the hand and leads us through an adventure into the heart of who we really are."
Dave Andrews, Author “Building a Better World”
Further information at www.patrickogorman.co.uk
- GenresHistorical Fiction
279 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2017
562 people want to read
About the author
Pádraig O'Gorman
3 books13 followersPádraig O’Gorman divides his time between his home in Clonakilty, County Cork and Vienna, Austria.
He was born in Blackrock, Cork; His family moved to Mallow shortly after. Leaving Westland Row CBS, he joined The Spiritans in 1964, spending 4 years in seminary until it became clear celibacy would get in the way of a full life. Graduating from University College Dublin, he, like many of his generation, left Ireland in 1970.
In 1973, he gave up his job with Esso Petroleum, London, because he felt squeezed into shape by corporate culture and joined the hippie trail to Asia, travelling extensively for one year and living in community in Delhi for a further year.
He has spent his life in development. Establishing in 1991, a ‘not for profit’ community cooperative, Cartref Ni Ltd (means “our Home” in Welsh) in North Wales, to provide support to disabled people to live in their own home with the right support. It celebrated its silver jubilee in 2016.
From 1998, he spent 20 years in international development, mostly in Asia but also the Caribbean and Eastern Europe working with local non governmental organisations supporting street-based drug users. This was a rich experience which meant that he became comfortable cross-culturally on the streets of many countries in the world.
His first novel 'The Drowning of Innocence' is a product of extensive research and one year full-time on the road with his wife Denise in their VWT3 campervan. The main inspiration for the story is to communicate to his grandson, Ezra (who, at the grand old age of two, became a naturalised Irish citizen), what being Irish means putting him in touch with his heritage.
Pádraig’s second novel 'Small Birds Fly Free', tells the story of five people who survive the Irish Famine, An Gorta Mór, migrate to America and become embroiled in the American Civil War. The story deals with imperialism, the plight of refugees, the American caste system underpinning slavery, the civil war conflict and racism. He is a member of the Vienna Storytelling Collective which meets monthly at Cafe Korb, Vienna. You can view his short stories on his website www.padraigogorman.ie and Pádraig is also a member of spoken word at deBarras pub, Clonakilty,
He was born in Blackrock, Cork; His family moved to Mallow shortly after. Leaving Westland Row CBS, he joined The Spiritans in 1964, spending 4 years in seminary until it became clear celibacy would get in the way of a full life. Graduating from University College Dublin, he, like many of his generation, left Ireland in 1970.
In 1973, he gave up his job with Esso Petroleum, London, because he felt squeezed into shape by corporate culture and joined the hippie trail to Asia, travelling extensively for one year and living in community in Delhi for a further year.
He has spent his life in development. Establishing in 1991, a ‘not for profit’ community cooperative, Cartref Ni Ltd (means “our Home” in Welsh) in North Wales, to provide support to disabled people to live in their own home with the right support. It celebrated its silver jubilee in 2016.
From 1998, he spent 20 years in international development, mostly in Asia but also the Caribbean and Eastern Europe working with local non governmental organisations supporting street-based drug users. This was a rich experience which meant that he became comfortable cross-culturally on the streets of many countries in the world.
His first novel 'The Drowning of Innocence' is a product of extensive research and one year full-time on the road with his wife Denise in their VWT3 campervan. The main inspiration for the story is to communicate to his grandson, Ezra (who, at the grand old age of two, became a naturalised Irish citizen), what being Irish means putting him in touch with his heritage.
Pádraig’s second novel 'Small Birds Fly Free', tells the story of five people who survive the Irish Famine, An Gorta Mór, migrate to America and become embroiled in the American Civil War. The story deals with imperialism, the plight of refugees, the American caste system underpinning slavery, the civil war conflict and racism. He is a member of the Vienna Storytelling Collective which meets monthly at Cafe Korb, Vienna. You can view his short stories on his website www.padraigogorman.ie and Pádraig is also a member of spoken word at deBarras pub, Clonakilty,
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 4, 2025
In 2010, Alannah finds a postcard amongst a shoebox full at a flea market in Dublin. Dated in April of 1949, it simply states, "You are in my heart always. Not a day goes by when I don't think of you. I love you, Eileen."
Alannah decides to find out the story behind the postcard.
The story moves then to 1914 and two brothers, Claude and Charlie, about to leave to fight in WWI, their sister Joan and brother Michael, along with his friend, Mattie, and his sister, Eileen, all heading to Crosshaven to enjoy one more carefree day before the brothers leave for the battlefield.
From 1914 to 1922, we follow the characters of Michael and Eileen, who fall in love but all while being surrounded by tragedy, loss and the violence of the War of Independence and subsequent civil war in Ireland of the early 1920s.
There were sections of this book that I enjoyed, but it does require a belief in a lot of consequences, which I think was pushed a bit too far. Even the idea that someone would go researching a postcard written sixty years previously seems unrealistic, even if it is the core idea upon which all of the book is founded.
Alannah decides to find out the story behind the postcard.
The story moves then to 1914 and two brothers, Claude and Charlie, about to leave to fight in WWI, their sister Joan and brother Michael, along with his friend, Mattie, and his sister, Eileen, all heading to Crosshaven to enjoy one more carefree day before the brothers leave for the battlefield.
From 1914 to 1922, we follow the characters of Michael and Eileen, who fall in love but all while being surrounded by tragedy, loss and the violence of the War of Independence and subsequent civil war in Ireland of the early 1920s.
There were sections of this book that I enjoyed, but it does require a belief in a lot of consequences, which I think was pushed a bit too far. Even the idea that someone would go researching a postcard written sixty years previously seems unrealistic, even if it is the core idea upon which all of the book is founded.
July 3, 2017
I loved this book; I read it in one day because I could not put it down. The characters drew me in and I learned a lot about Ireland and the troubles after World War I. It is about love and war and human nature.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews