War of Independence focus of new book set in Birr

A novel set primarily in Birr that examines the events and legacy of the War of Independence is about to hit bookshelves.

Primarily set in Offaly, 'Serenity Song' by Anglo-Irish author Finn Dervan, has scenes also set in Tipperary, Galway and Northern Ireland, and it deals with the struggle for independence during the Tan War and the enduring legacy of sectarianism in the North and on the streets of Glasgow.

It is also about love, duty and the transience of memory.

The author has chosen Birr to launch his debut novel with a signing and presentation of his work at Birr Civic Library at 10.30am on this Saturday July 27.

Two years in the writing, 'Serenity Song' was inspired by the discovery of a family secret that had lain buried for two generations. Finn was born and raised in England, but his mother hails from Galway.

As a child, Finn had been told that his great-grandfather, a policeman in the Royal Irish Constabulary, had been gunned down sometime during the Irish War of Independence by a rogue Republican gunman. 

The family fable was that the Police Sergeant, a staunch Catholic, was on his way to mass when he was waylaid and murdered for no other reason than the uniform he wore.

Finn, a history teacher from North Yorkshire, tried for years to shed more light on the story, but to no avail. However in 2016, in the wake of the centennial commemorations of the Easter Rising, a whole host of unseen documents surfaced online. 

To the family’s horror, Finn’s great-grandfather was dubbed the leader of a Black and Tan murder squad who terrorised the rural areas of Roscommon.

His assassination, only an hour before the truce that ended two years of vicious guerrilla war, was a last ditch attempt by the Republican forces in that County to have their revenge. With many members of the family refusing to believe the accusations, Finn decided to investigate. He travelled to the National Archives in London to study the original documentation, to Dublin, Belfast, Derry and Glasgow. What he discovered wasn’t enough to exonerate his ancestor, but was more than enough to inspire him to write Serenity Song.

The novel follows James Lucas as he embarks on a similar quest. But very soon, he learns that in small-town Ireland, there is a reason the past remains buried. Modern day sectarianism on the streets of Northern Ireland and Scotland is put under the microscope as James stumbles across clandestine Republican splinter groups and shady members of the Orange Order. 

Slowly he begins to uncover a history even darker than he could have imagined. Faced with a very real threat to all those he loves, James must decide how far he is prepared to go to reveal the truth.

“What struck me about the town of Birr was that it encapsulates the transition to a Republic," says author Finn Dervan. 
"A Georgian market town that boasted a grand square named after the Butcher of Culloden in a county then known as King’s County, transforms itself into the town of Birr centred around Emmet Square in County Offaly.

"I liked the idea of setting a novel about the Irish War of Independence in a place that, from the outside at least, seemed so inherently linked to the established order.”

The novel has met with critical acclaim; Owen Gibson, Head of National News at the Guardian, has written; “From rural Ireland to the mean streets of modern-day Glasgow, memory, history and sectarianism are explored in this gripping and accomplished thriller. A remarkable debut.”

Finn will outline the historical background, discuss the writing process and read an excerpt from his novel in the Council Chamber of Birr Civic Centre which is adjoined to the library. He wil then host a Q&A session before adjourning to the stunning atrium in the library to sign copies of the novel. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, visit www.finndervan.com or search for Serenity Song Irish Launch on Facebook Events.