By Kilkenny Observer Reporter
Photos by Pat Shortall
The wonderful O’Loughlin Gaels pavilion was the venue for the launch of a new book last week. Kitty’s War is the second book by Eimear Lawlor having first published ‘Dublin’s Girl’ in 2021 during lockdown. The novel is set in 1941 in Ballyfoyle, Kilkenny, and The Curragh Military Camp, against the backdrop of World War II. What a pleasure it was to meet up with Sheila Forsey who performed the launch. In a different life Sheila was involved with Watergate productions and a chat before proceedings got underway evoked some lovely memories. Sheila engaged in a Q and A with Eimear to reveal some wonderful insights into the research, planning and writing of this historical fictional novel. The ‘Loughs’ pavilion was packed with supporters and Khan Kiely who was selling Eimears books reported great sales.
The story
“Kitty’s War” follows the life of Kathleen “Kitty” Flynn, a young Irish woman who faces immense personal and societal challenges during one of history’s most tumultuous periods. She wants to return to London to escape her past and move on but is forced to stay when her brother becomes seriously ill. The Kilkenny Observer attended the launch and spoke with the author.
We first asked Eimer about the title.
“The name “Kitty’s War” is a play on words. The Germans had seriously considered invading Ireland during the war in a plan called Operation Green, codenamed ‘Operation Kathleen’.
The IRA had tried to strike a deal with Hitler that if they helped invade Ireland, it would be a stepping stone to Britain. Additionally, Ireland was strategically positioned with ports to Europe and on the west coast to the Atlantic”, explained Eimear.
Ms Lawlor went on to say that she has always been interested in world wars, and she stumbled upon a book in the Kilkenny library called ‘Luftwaffe Crash-Landing in Ireland.’
Research
“When I first started writing about Kitty, I stumbled upon the fascinating yet largely untold story of British and German internees in The Curragh during the Second World War!”, continued the author.
For Eimear, this discovery provided a rich historical context that deeply influenced the narrative of “Kitty’s War.” The Curragh Camp in County Kildare housed both British and German soldiers, creating a unique world compared of the broader conflict and different to the internment camps in Europe. This aspect of Irish history is untold, and according to Eimear she felt compelled to shed some light on it through Kitty’s story.
Brief Synopsis
In 1941, Kitty moves back to Ireland from the bomb-ravaged streets of London to the serene yet turbulent Irish countryside. Kitty navigates love, loss, and survival. The novel captures her scarred and disillusioned relationship with her brother Anthony, who returns from fighting in the Spanish Civil War. Their lives are further complicated by their encounters with a German airman,, whose presence brings danger to the attention of G2, Irish Military Intelligence, because of her brother’s past. She has to make a choice to save herself or her brother.
Kitty’s War” intertwines personal struggle with historical events, giving readers a glimpse of life in Ireland during World War II. The story centres on the life of Kathleen “Kitty” Flinn, whose experiences reveal the personal and societal impacts of living in Ireland in the 1940s. The story unfolds against the backdrop of Ireland’s neutrality and the lesser-known internment of German soldiers at The Curragh Camp in County Kildare.
On the night of the launch, military men Larry Scallan, Jim O’Keeffe,(Kilkenny military museum) and Michael Rowley ( Curragh history Group) were in attendances showing many artefacts from WWll which added greatly to the evening.
Eimear Lawlor was born in Co. Cavan and now lives in Kilkenny. She did a diploma in creative writing with Maynooth university and her work has been broadcast on The Ryan Tubridy and The Ray Darcy shows on RTE. Her debut novel Dublin’s Girl was number one best seller on Amazon and listed number six in the Irish Times original fictional chart
‘Kitty’s war’ is available in Eason’s Book centre and all bookshops nationwide. Also available in U.K., Amazon USA and Australia.
