Ireland’s obsession with land at heart of new novel by Cork author

Why has our unhealthy obsession with the land led to some of the most brutal feuds and murders in modern Irish history?

In a land where the soil is woven into the very fabric of identity, the obsession with ownership becomes a relentless force.

But why do these ties to the land drive people to desperate deeds, pitting brother against brother, family against family, and neighbour against neighbour?

Ultimately, in the bitter battles for territory, all seem to lose - even those who win.

These deep-rooted sentiments find powerful expression in my compelling new historical fiction novel, Of Land & Greed, a narrative that blurs the lines between truth and fiction.

Delving into the intricate nuances of Ireland’s turbulent connection with land ownership, it sheds light on its profound effects on family dynamics.

“What we have we hold, and what we hold, we hold forever!” This sentiment, deeply rooted in Irish culture, echoes throughout the novel, capturing the fierce tenacity of those who see land as an extension of self.

The story resonates with John B Keane’s The Field, where the fictional Bull McCabe’s murderous claim over land was a reflection of real-life events found across every county in Ireland.

My book is set in the early 1900s in West Cork, and as Ireland battles for independence, Seán Óg Crowley, the first in his family to own the land they have farmed as tenants for generations, becomes consumed by the need for a son to inherit the farm.

He wages a personal war at home, fuelled by obsession, betrayal, and unrelenting ambition: Far removed from the simple narrative of oppressed tenant farmers versus powerful landlords.

As the Crowley family’s internal struggle culminates in a final, explosive confrontation during a severe storm, a hidden secret emerges, threatening to alter the family legacy and haunt future generations.

Of Land & Greed is more than a simple tale of inheritance and rivalry; it is a reflection of a nation’s birth, a testament to the powerful ties between land and identity, and a poignant exploration of the corrosive effects of greed.

How the novel came about

I’m a lover of history, particularly Irish history. We think change happens fast these days but it was nothing like the political and social upheaval in the first half of the 20th century.

At home, we fought the British for independence, and then we fought ourselves in a tragic civil war.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world was living and dying through two great wars, the collapse of imperialism, the export of American-styled democracy, and the birth of communism in Eastern Europe.

But there was one other significant change that occurred in Ireland in the early 1900s and that was the transition of Irish catholic farmers from tenants to landowners.

That transition at a human level really interested me, as did our national obsession with land, whether it’s a postage stamp-sized urban garden or a rocky 80 acres on a West Cork mountainside.

I’m an urbanite, a city dweller, I get anxious when I don’t hear sirens at night. But, like many city folk, we’re only once-removed from the land, and the countryside is just a stone’s throw beyond our back gardens.

My grandfather was born on a West Cork farm, but he was forced to leave and find work in Cork city. He arrived to an alien world and found work as an attendant in one of the largest psychiatric institutions in the country. Ireland had a lot of them then.

When I was growing up in the 1960s, we would holiday in West Cork, far out towards the Mizen, the tourists hadn’t yet discovered its beauty. It was sustained mostly by farming, fishing and small-town commerce.

I thought the farming community were a different breed, and that they looked at us townies with suspicion.

You see, in my youthful ignorance, I assumed that they had owned their land for centuries and centuries. I didn’t know back then that they had just purchased it a few decades before and were still getting used to the idea of ownership.

I didn’t understand why they were guarding it so preciously.

About the author

I live in the St.Luke’s area of Cork city with my wife, Mags. We have four adult children and a sprinkling of grandkids.

I worked for many years in the world of international business, which brought its own highs and lows.

Before I turned 60, I suffered a heart attack in my hotel room one evening while away on business. It forced me to review my life and re-evaluate the important things, like family and friends.

And so, I changed direction and began exploring the worlds of art, music, languages, and, of course, writing.

I am an obsessional reader and I have written some short stories and poetry, but I completed my first novel in 2022, titled The Stain. I am currently working on my third novel.

My first book, The Stain

This is a tale that spans continents and cultures, weaving between Boston, Ireland, London, and Pakistan.

At its heart are two successful businessmen, an American and an Irishman, whose lives become derailed in dramatic and unforeseen circumstances, leading to profound consequences for themselves and their families.

The novel takes place over a four-week period in 2017 and its timeline counts down to a dramatic conclusion.

It is an exploration of love, loyalty and the unpredictable nature of life itself.

Of Land & Greed is published by Orla Kelly Publishing and it is currently on pre-order from buythebook.ie. It is due for release on February 17.