“We can ill afford to have such men as enemies,” he said in a final effort at persuasion.
I could see the logic of Father’s assertion but it only added to the burden of responsibility that now lay upon my shoulders.” Continue reading His Stag Do was a Massacre: 24th August 1170 the Sacking of Waterford.
Father was smiling. I remember thinking how rare an event that was these days. ‘Go now and prepare yourself for a journey and your marriage,’ he bade me. ‘We leave at first light tomorrow for Waterford where de Clare awaits us.’ Continue reading 23rd August 1170: An Irish ‘D-Day’ Landing
By 23rd August he deemed the conditions right to set sail, setting not only the course of his ships, but that of his subsequent career and the history of Ireland and her neighbour for centuries to come. Continue reading Setting Course for Ireland
Whilst Raymond waited in his camp on a small peninsula on the border between Wexford and Waterford, what was keeping Strongbow? One can only imagine the difficulty of recruiting a private army at a time when every man of substance who wished to advance his career was pursuing opportunities to impress and, eventually, serve his king. Strongbow was not the only noble who had supported the wrong side during the Anarchy. There were others who needed to find a way of regaining the position they had lost with the upon coronation of Henry II. Meanwhile, Strongbow’s future son-in-law was making … Continue reading A Charismatic Leader Picks his Team
Look out for my next post about Strongbow as the 850th anniversary of his arrival in Ireland approaches. Continue reading Weekend Walk in the Garden #19: 9th Auguit 2020
Historical fiction can be a daunting genre to write in. Endlessly fascinating and rewarding, yes. But still daunting. Continue reading 6 Principles for Writing HIstorical Fiction
In the greenhouse the tomatoes are ripening. The picture is misleading, however: they are not as large as they seem! Continue reading Weekend Walk in the Garden #18 – 2nd August 2020
July is finishing up as it began – the weather is extremely variable. There is grain ready for harvest but with barely two consecutive days of dry weather I’m guessing the farmers are becoming frustrated. In my garden the dahlias … Continue reading Weekend Walk in the Garden #17 – 26th July 2020
By sending the Irish party there – it was, after all, on their route back to Ireland – he could kill two birds with one stone. There were men there who would welcome a foreign expedition. They could report back on the likelihood of such a venture achieving success. Continue reading Men With Grievances.
The sweet peas have not climbed much. The few flowers they have produced are pretty, nonetheless. They smell nice, too. Continue reading Weekend Walk in the Garden #16 – 19th July 2020
