Moate man shortlisted for An Post Irish Book Award
Moate native John Sheehan has been shortlisted in the Best Irish Published Book category at An Post's Irish Book Awards.
John co-wrote the book, 'The Book of the Skelligs' with John Crowley.
The book explores the Skelligs, Ireland’s most dramatic and beautiful Atlantic islands, and focuses particularly on the famous World Heritage Site Skellig Michael. It considers why the construction of a remarkable monastic site near the peak of this island over a thousand years ago stands as one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of Christianity. The Book of the Skelligs combines different approaches to deepening our understanding of the islands, combining the perspectives of history, archaeology, cultural geography, oral tradition, literature and natural science.
It also considers the impact of the Vikings, and the construction of lighthouses a millennium later.
Speaking about the book, Mr Sheehan said: “Skelligs is the best preserved monastic site in the whole country. I decided to write a book on the Skelligs when Star Wars was being filmed. I campaigned against it. I just felt that the government agencies involved bent the rules to allow Star Wars to be filmed out there. In writing the book, what we were trying to do was reclaim the Skelligs for what makes it really important which is the monastic site, the wildness of the island.”
“Anybody who writes on the Skelligs excites people's interest because it's such a romantic, well-known sort of location. It's memorable and I think that's part of the reason why the book caught the imagination. There's a mystique about the place,” added Mr Sheehan.
The UCC archaeology lecturer wanted to write the book to highlight what makes that Skelligs significant such as the nature and scenery. The book features chapters on archaeoloy, history, folklore, place names, fishermen and underwater life.
“We were delighted when we heard we were shortlisted for Book of the Year. I think between the design, photography and text it all came together.”
He siad the root of his love for archaeology and history lay in Moyvoughley and Clonmacnoise. As a child he imagined monks wandering around the local bogs. While attending primary school at Kilcleagh National School, Mr Sheehan was put in charge of a table by his teacher Mr Ryan which was referred to as museum. “That directed me towards studying archaeology.”
The Cork-based author specialises in Viking archaeology and enjoys writing about a mix of archaeology and history from this historical age. He is a senior lecturer in the School of the Human Environment at University College Cork. Mr Sheehan jointly edited The Viking Age: Ireland and the West (2010) and Clerics, Kings and Vikings (2015) and he has contributed to several award-winning atlas publications.
Anyone who wishes to vote for the book in the An Post Irish Book Awards can vote at irishbookawards.ie. The deadline for voting closes on November 10. Category winners will be announced on November 23.