A powerful story of love, hardship, cruelty and revenge
Nenagh writer, Michael ‘Charlie’ McGee has announced that his latest book, Never Forget: The Tribulations of Dún Dermott, will finally be released at 7pm on October 22 in The Nenagh BookShop.
Michael’s second novel is a work of historical fiction that is set around Lower Ormond during the horrific time of the potato famine. A powerful story of love, hardship, cruelty and revenge, it is set against the backdrop of a woeful Ireland during Black ’47.
The novel follows an elderly gentleman, Eoghan Harrington, as he reflects on his early life, which was marked by tragedy, injustice and unforgettable personal struggles, a horrendous period he can Never Forget. His memories take the reader back to a turbulent period in Irish history, when famine, disease and emigration devastated communities and countless lives were changed forever. At the heart of the story are tales of hardship and survival, family, friendship and the struggling love a brother and a neighbour, alongside the darker consequences of tragedy and revenge.
From the lives of those who remained in Ireland to the experiences of those forced to cross the Atlantic, Never Forget explores the extraordinary stories of ordinary people and the events that shaped them. Described by acclaimed Irish writer Donal Ryan and Labour Party Spokesperson for the Arts and former leader, Deputy Alan Kelly, as a compelling and powerful piece of storytelling, the novel promises to take readers on an emotional journey through a fascinating and turbulent chapter of Ireland's past.
‘COMPELLING WORK’
Donal Ryan: “Michael is a writer deeply attuned to the rich and tragic history of his native place. This is a work of fiction of the best kind, informed by the writer’s extensive learning and research, from which he has fashioned a story of astonishing breadth and depth. Never Forget: The Tribulations of Dún Dermot is an important and very compelling work, composed with skill and great empathy.”
Alan Kelly, TD: “An exhilarating journey into a past, which should never be forgotten. The turbulent years of the Great Hunger is brought to life here through an impressive gathering of research that has resulted in a story filled with a vast array of emotions. A quality piece of writing that is a page-turner.”
In 2009 Michael published a novel called Scorned and this is still available on Amazon in a soft copy format. Further to this, he put together an anthology of some of his short stories and poetry, called A Touch of Prose and he launched this project on Amazon in 2014. Furthermore, Michael have had several short stories published in various anthologies globally.
In 2010 Michael graduated with a 1.1 Honours Degree in Media Production Management from Dublin City University, and he also completed a Post-Grad in Creative Multimedia Programming at Limerick Institute of Technology in 2012.
‘Never Forget’ — because some stories, some injustices and some lives should never be forgotten.
All are welcome to the launch at Nenagh Bookshop on Thursday, October 22, 7pm.
Never Forget will be available in print as a hardback and paperback, while it will also be available as an eBook for Kindle and Google Play Books.
Some stories fade with time... Others demand to be remembered.