I INVOKE THE SPIRIT OF AMERGIN . . .
I implore that we may regain the land of Erin,
We who have come over the lofty waves,
This land whose mountains are great and extensive,
Whose streams are clear and numerous,
Whose woods abound with various fruit,
Its rivers and waterfalls are large and beautiful,
Its lakes are broad and widely spread,
It abounds with fountains on elevated grounds!
Amergin, leader, poet and figurehead of the Milesians, who came to Ireland, according to myth, in the Bronze Age
TWO BOOKS
When I wrote ‘Island of the Setting Sun’ in 2006, I felt as if I had made an extraordinary trip through time, and that I had connected with a very ancient and profound wisdom. It stirred me so much that I felt as if I was weaving magic with every word that I wrote. On a spiritual and esoteric level, I had retreated into the dark chamber of Newgrange, I had seen a wonderful, brilliant light, I had reconnected with my ancestors, I had conversed with the gods, and I had emerged a changed man. I would like to share that magic with you in two new literary adventures.
I am telling you this in the hope that I can encourage someone to aid me in the publication of these works. I believe that both will have a particular resonance with people in these times of change and uncertainty. I believe that we all need to experience that solstice moment, that bright flash of divine and cosmic brilliance in the dark belly of the earth mound. We all need to re-emerge from the darkness, and reconnect with the deepest and most ancient things.
THE FLOOD AND THE FIRE
One book is provisionally titled, “The Flood and the Fire – the beginning and the end of the world in Irish myth and prophecy”. As the title suggests, this non-fiction work examines the history of humanity and its destiny from a uniquely Irish perspective. It begins by looking at Irish myths and folklore dealing with the supposed flood of Noah, the biblical deluge which was said to have almost obliterated mankind deep in prehistory. Is there evidence, in Ireland’s stories, placenames and written records, that could support the idea of an ancient inundation? As well as looking back, the book looks forward, specifically to the idea of Armageddon or a future apocalypse, and looks at Irish prophecy and legends dealing with the “end times”. Will we be destroyed by conflagration, as the Old Testament says? Is this supported by Irish myths and prophecy? Or will we be destroyed by a great flood which will devastate our ancient isle, as predicted by an Irish saint? And who is the mysterious monk, who chose the location of one of Ireland’s largest monasteries (Mellifont), who predicted the future popes, a prediction which says the current Pope, Benedict XVI, is the second-last Pope? What is the origin of the tale of a strange island in the Atlantic which is said to appear once every seven years? Why is there an abundance of stories in Irish folklore about drowned and sunken cities? And did an ancient Irish druid foresee a nuclear explosion in a terrifying vision? The Flood and the Fire will run to about 80,000 words.
LAND OF THE EVER LIVING ONES
The other book is a novel, called “Land of the Ever Living Ones”, which is a profound and deeply stirring dialogue between a reclusive elder who lives on top of a hill, and a young boy from a nearby village, set in Iron Age Ireland. After encountering the elder on a summer afternoon, the boy becomes captivated by his apparent wisdom. Together, they explore, in moving conversation, many themes which are at the root of humanity and all its beauties and all its tragedies. From their own unique perspectives, the elder and the youngster discuss much of what is eternally mysterious to the human race - where we came from, why we are here, and where we go following death. The dialogue takes the form of simple conversation between two very different, yet two very similar, personalities. One is a wise elder who has lived in solitude on a hilltop for twenty years, choosing a lonely life over the community existence which is cherished by ordinary folk in fragile times. The other is a 12-year-old boy, who lives in a village beneath the great hill. This extraordinary boy shows wisdom and knowledge way beyond his tender years, and the two form a great bond as they journey through some of the great events and happenings of Ireland's remote past - and thus they also discuss the fate of the world and man's place in it in a profound and deeply moving dialogue. Their adventure takes them from the time of the great flood - when everyone was said to have perished in Ireland except one man called Fintan (ironically having the same first name as the young boy, whose name is also Fintan) - through the great stone monuments and wonderful and often magical stories of ancient Ireland, through into the future, of which the elder has had vivid visions during his lonely pilgrimage on the hilltop. The old man teaches the boy about the sacredness of land and nature and animals, and bestows upon him knowledge of the sun, moon and stars, and helps to unravel some of the mystery surrounding death. He discusses the otherworld, the paradise beyond the comprehension of living people, the wonderful place where people go when their earthly life is fulfilled. Gradually it dawns on the boy that he has a very unique fate in the world, and the elder is no ordinary old man. This book will explore themes which I feel will resonate on a profound level with people in today’s troubled world. It will run to about 100,000 words or so.
ABOUT ME
I am a 37-year-old newspaper editor living in Ireland. I have been writing all my life, or pretty much all of it. Ever since I could hold a pencil I was writing. As a kid I was a day dreamer, with my head in the clouds and among the stars, but always with a pen and paper or a typewriter somewhere near at hand. I started writing professionally for newspapers when I was in my teens, and have worked in publishing and journalism now full-time for 18 years. I am the author of a beautiful book about ancient Ireland, along with my good friend Richard Moore, called ‘Island of the Setting Sun – In Search of Ireland’s ancient Astronomers’. This book has been widely acclaimed, and went to second edition after the first edition sold out in a year. I believe I am more than qualified to write more beautiful books, and would dearly love to share some extraordinary literary creations with willing readers. Have a look at what some people have said about Island of the Setting Sun:
Island of the Setting Sun
....is a gentle eye-opener of a rare kind!
What an amazing adventure it is to read this precious book! – Amazon reviewer
A monument – Drogheda Independent
A beautifully written and illustrated publication – Geraldine & Matthew Stout, authors of Newgrange.
A fascinating insight into Ireland’s ancient burial sites – Irish Independent
CONTACT
I am looking for willing partners in bringing these books to the market, whether it be through print, or digitally, or (preferably) both. I have three chapters of each book completed and can supply a synopsis and a chapter plan for both. I have a number of websites, the most successful of which, www.mythicalireland.com, continues to attract 1,500 visitors EVERY DAY and would be an ideal marketing and promotional vehicle for both books. Plus I have extensive media contacts who could help me with reviews and articles about these books. If you’re interested in helping me to publish these exciting new works, I can be contacted by email at mythicalireland@eircom.net or by phone on 00353 (0)89 4392417. I look forward to hearing from you and to the beginning of a great adventure.
