Books
A Powerful Historical Novel Based on True Events
€13.99 (Including postage), Ireland only, signed copy
€14.99
€4.09
One man’s dream leads to a devastating tragedy.
Journey back to 1926 to a small town in rural Ireland, where Babe O’Connor is a man with a plan. Despite his illegitimate birth and physical deformity, he is determined to make a name for himself. As a hot, dry summer grips the town, Babe sees an opportunity to make some money by organising a picture show in a timber loft on a Sunday night in early September. His plans are met with resistance from the local priest and sergeant. Undeterred, Babe convinces the townspeople to attend the show, ignoring the warnings from authority figures.
Little do they know that their decision to climb the rickety ladder into the loft will lead to an appalling tragedy. As the town reels in the aftermath, tensions rise and anger boils over. Babe must face the consequences of his actions and the weight of his guilt.
A Widow’s Son is a well-researched Irish historical novel that sensitively captures the devastating weight of a small-town disaster, exploring the layers of local guilt and the long-lasting psychological trauma experienced by the survivors.
About the History: The Dromcollogher Cinema Fire of 1926
This novel is inspired by the real-world event known locally as “The Burning”—the Dromcollogher Cinema Fire of 1926. On Sunday, 5 September 1926, in the small town of Dromcollogher, County Limerick, an upstairs timber loft functioning as a temporary makeshift cinema became a catastrophic inferno when a candle accidentally ignited highly flammable nitrate film reels.
The disaster resulted in the heartbreaking loss of 48 men, women, and children—roughly one-tenth of the entire local population. The tragedy sent shockwaves across the globe and remains one of the most poignant disasters of early 20th-century independent Ireland.
The author, Marie Noonan, grew up in Dromcollogher.
Why Readers Are Captivated By This Book:
- Based on True History: Deeply rooted in the historical accuracy of 1920s Ireland and the real events of the Dromcollogher tragedy.
- Rich Atmosphere: Beautifully portrays the strict social pressures, religious influences and tight-knit community dynamics of the era.
- Deeply Psychological: Moves past the event itself to examine the devastating human cost, the grief, and the guilt of the survivors.
If you love emotionally gripping, evocative historical fiction that stays with you long after the final page, order your copy of A Widow’s Son today.