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Brothers
My novel began in 2007 after I read an article in The Observer newspaper written by a journalist who had travelled to Clare Island off the West coast of Ireland. I was captivated by its history and in particular the legend surrounding Grace O'Malley. Grace ruled the tiny island in the 16th Century and was nicknamed the Pirate Queen because she had plundered so many English merchant ships. Fascinated by this story, I travelled to the Irish mainland and jumped aboard the Pirate Queen Ferry which departed from Roonagh Quay. It soon became obvious that the island was steeped in a rich history and that the O’Malley Clan bloodline was still very much in evidence. I stayed at the O’Malley Guesthouse which overlooks Grace O’Malley’s castle on the quayside and I watched as dolphins swam in the bay whilst the lobster fisherman gathered their pots. It was so idyllic and peaceful, about as close to creative heaven as I think I’ll ever get.
I had taken bag full of books for research purposes and spent the evenings reading everything that I could about Grace O’Malley and the island's past. I got up early every morning and went for long walks in search of a story. It was as I walked around the cemetery of the church and found gravestones dated 1588, engraved with Spanish names, that the narrative began to take shape. I dug deeper and found that one of the Spanish Armada galleons, El Gran Grin, had been wrecked on the island and was rumoured to have been carrying a chest full of gold. That was when I knew that the treasure of El Gran Grin was going to be a prominent element of the tale. But I really didn’t want to write just a factual, historical account, I wanted the novel to be contemporary fiction so my search continued. Then one day whilst out walking I visited Clare Island's magnificent lighthouse. It was disproportionately large in relation to the size of the island due to its prominent location on Ireland’s West coast It had been decommissioned and was in a state of disrepair and it appeared me to be a little sad and dejected. I then asked myself why anybody would want to be a lighthouse keeper and remove themselves from society. A troubled past perhaps? It was then that I decided I wanted the story to explore the lengths that we go to in order to avoid dealing with our emotional scars and the story began to take shape.
The first character you meet in Brothers is Owen Kerrigan, the cantankerous lighthouse keeper of Clare Island. He has been estranged from his only brother Patrick for over thirty years after Patrick eloped to America with Owen’s fiancé. Following a traumatic event many of us seek catharsis through conversation with friends and family and we generally finally find a way to heal. For Owen, however, the feelings of betrayal and humiliation were just too much to bare. Instead he chose a different path isolating himself from the rest of the community. He opted for a life of solitude as a lighthouse keeper where no one would ask him any uncomfortable questions and where he would be able immerse himself in his work. But even then thoughts of his past continued to gnaw away at his psyche. He needed a complete distraction to avoid ever having to face up to the devastating emotional rift. He found a means to escape in the legend of the long lost treasure of the El Gran Grin that was rumored to be buried on Clare Island. His lighthouse had been built on the site of Grace O’Malley’s watchtower and he convinced himself that the chest was buried beneath his feet. For the first time in years he found solace as he immersed himself in another world – one of gold doubloons and treasure hunt adventure.
After many years digging, he finally allows himself to believe that he is about to unearth the treasure when he is issued with a sudden eviction notice. In desperation, with only days left to find the gold, Owen turns to the only person that can help him, his brother Patrick. So essentially it’s a story of redemption and also a bromance! The two brothers attempt to reconcile their relationship as they search for the treasure lost from the Spanish Armada galleon. But there is also a romance in the story as Patrick helps Owen to open up and find love again with Ellen O'Malley who is descended from Grace the Pirate Queen. Ellen also unwittingly holds the key to finding the treasure - a vital clue that has been passed down through the generations.
I particularly enjoyed researching this project. I read everything I could find about Grace O’Malley and the history of the Spanish Armada. Treasure of the Armada written by Robert Stenuit in 1972 proved to be a valuable source of information as it contained vital details about the treasure that was carried on the Armada flagships.
I also read accounts of the reclusive lives of lighthouse keepers and studied the day-to-day operations of lighthouses along with the mechanics that drove the lanterns. I was struck by what an incredibly proud group of men they were and it also occurred to me that it was very a male-dominated profession. I thought that made a nice counterpoint to Grace O’Malley - the fiery, enigmatic woman who ruled the O’Malley clan in the 16th Century.
An important clue to the mystery of the hidden treasure is entwined in a Gaelic song. So I spent some time researching Gaelic and translating the song that I’d written based on the legend and folklore of the island. I spoke to a number of Gaelic speakers many of whom differed in their translations. I felt at times as though I was trying to crack some ancient code as I attempted to unravel the nuances of the language.
Probably of the most unusual element of my research involved finding out about supermoons which result in the highest and lowest tides. Full supermoons only happen approximately once a year when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth and exerts its maximum gravitational pull on the oceans.
But I would say that the most entertaining part of my research was socialising with the Irish community in my local pub. I have many Irish friends and just listening to their speech and cadence over a pint of Guinness was invaluable and obviously very enjoyable!
The stories that I love stay with me long after I’ve turned the final page. I hope that my story moves people in the same way. I’m one of three brothers. Every family experiences upsets and disagreements and it is all too easy to allow them drag on and remain unresolved. I’ve met a few people now who are filled with deep regret that their siblings have passed away before they had a chance to reconcile their differences. If even one person reaches out to an estranged family member after reading my book then it will have all been worthwhile.
I also like to think that the mature romance between Owen and Ellen O’Malley offers hope for those looking for love later in life and that if we’re brave enough there is always a chance for love. Owen, a man so scarred by the break down in his relationship that he feels incapable of ever falling in love, finally finds the courage to take a risk and open up and is rewarded with finding love in the twilight of his life.
Brothers by Kirk Weddell is published by Clink Street, £9.99 paperback, £3.99 ebook, and is out now.