The Ghost of Kilrush is a book not just about the small town of Kilrush. This story could be about any rural town in Ireland. It’s a story about down to earth people who were in essence the salt of the earth but had that wonderful sense of Irish humour that got them through hard times. This book is full of humour and sincerity a time in history long gone past in the 1940s and 50s.
This is the true story of a young boy who was a protestant in a small catholic town out on the west coast of Ireland. As you can imagine this young English lad was not about to have an easy time because of the memories of the Black and Tans and their atrocities in the town.
Then we have the bright side, the wonderful characters of those days, very funny people and very talented. Walk with me along the streets and lanes of this small town as I remember it and I will tell some happy and not so happy Irish tales. These people were wonderful people like Paddy Griffin possibly the funniest man I ever met. The story of Joseph HAWES, from Kilrush, Co. Clare - a veteran of the Connaught Rangers in World War 1 and Gallipoli. This is the true story of an Irish republican and his comrades who were part of the British forces on the front line in India and the last Indian mutiny. I stand in awe of this man and I was privileged to have met Joe, here was a real hero of Ireland and I thank him for being a part of my life. Let me introduce this wonderful character to you!
The true story of Scattery Island and its king. Here was a small island with 5 churches, two cathedrals and a Viking tower all in ruins. This is a small island off the west coast of Ireland in the mouth of the river Shannon that dates back to the 4th century. This little island with its own small community had its own King when I was a boy. The reason that the islands had a king was because the Gardi (police) of Ireland had no jurisdiction and no presence on the islands. The King of the island is a tradition that goes back a thousand years and the people of the islands and Kilrush inherited this wonderful history. Sadly there is no King today but we still have a Bishop of Scattery Island to continue the tradition from the 5th century.
The story of how St Senan’s Well and why it was built. The people of Kilrush believe it is a monument to St. Senan, but that is not strictly true. This is a monument built to the memory of a lost brother, built with love and tears by his 4 brothers. So much passion went into every brick and every piece of concrete.
The stories of brutality and cruelty by so called Christian Brothers in those days. A hatred for them that I carried for 50 years and then you learn forgiveness.
This little book tells the story of the Rock and roll years when I went to Liverpool in the late fifties as a teenager with my guitar. During these years I think we played with all of the big groups in the Merseyside area. The first big band we played with was Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. The member of this particular group who went on to great fame was of course none other than Ringo Starr and he was the drummer. Billy J. Cramer, Billy was the lead singer with the Coasters when I knew him and Gerry Marsden of the Pacemakers. Wonderful people who just enjoyed life to the full.
I hope you enjoy
Joe Riley
This is the true story of a young boy who was a protestant in a small catholic town out on the west coast of Ireland. As you can imagine this young English lad was not about to have an easy time because of the memories of the Black and Tans and their atrocities in the town.
Then we have the bright side, the wonderful characters of those days, very funny people and very talented. Walk with me along the streets and lanes of this small town as I remember it and I will tell some happy and not so happy Irish tales. These people were wonderful people like Paddy Griffin possibly the funniest man I ever met. The story of Joseph HAWES, from Kilrush, Co. Clare - a veteran of the Connaught Rangers in World War 1 and Gallipoli. This is the true story of an Irish republican and his comrades who were part of the British forces on the front line in India and the last Indian mutiny. I stand in awe of this man and I was privileged to have met Joe, here was a real hero of Ireland and I thank him for being a part of my life. Let me introduce this wonderful character to you!
The true story of Scattery Island and its king. Here was a small island with 5 churches, two cathedrals and a Viking tower all in ruins. This is a small island off the west coast of Ireland in the mouth of the river Shannon that dates back to the 4th century. This little island with its own small community had its own King when I was a boy. The reason that the islands had a king was because the Gardi (police) of Ireland had no jurisdiction and no presence on the islands. The King of the island is a tradition that goes back a thousand years and the people of the islands and Kilrush inherited this wonderful history. Sadly there is no King today but we still have a Bishop of Scattery Island to continue the tradition from the 5th century.
The story of how St Senan’s Well and why it was built. The people of Kilrush believe it is a monument to St. Senan, but that is not strictly true. This is a monument built to the memory of a lost brother, built with love and tears by his 4 brothers. So much passion went into every brick and every piece of concrete.
The stories of brutality and cruelty by so called Christian Brothers in those days. A hatred for them that I carried for 50 years and then you learn forgiveness.
This little book tells the story of the Rock and roll years when I went to Liverpool in the late fifties as a teenager with my guitar. During these years I think we played with all of the big groups in the Merseyside area. The first big band we played with was Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. The member of this particular group who went on to great fame was of course none other than Ringo Starr and he was the drummer. Billy J. Cramer, Billy was the lead singer with the Coasters when I knew him and Gerry Marsden of the Pacemakers. Wonderful people who just enjoyed life to the full.
I hope you enjoy
Joe Riley
