Louth CoCo launch historical children’s book set in Bellingham Castle

A new book exploring Louth’s history in the lead up to the formation of the state will be launched at the end May, and several copies will be given free to every primary school in the county. The book, an initiative of Louth County Council arts office, and funded under the Decade of Centenaries programme in 2023, is aimed at the senior cycle and suitable for ages 9-12 and upwards.

Led by acting Arts Officer Moya Hodgers, the book has been developed over the past year and is written by former An Táin writer-in-residence Nicola Cassidy. Illustrations have been provided by Dundalk-based illustrator Sophie Coyle, with historical research provided by local historian, Dr. Donal Hall.

“I wanted to deliver something that was relatable to young people about our local history,” explained Moya. “I remember learning about the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence in school, but it can feel so distant to you at that age. Creating a story around a character that is a similar age to the reader and who is living through and experiencing things that happened in our own county at the time is far more interesting, I hope, for young people to engage with.”

Nicola Cassidy, an historical fiction author who has published four books for adults said it was a joy to write a children’s book, although it did present some challenges. “Writing for children is a special skill in itself, as I had to research everything thoroughly, then create characters and settings that might appeal to children and keep their interest while working out how to cover what at times were quite bloody parts of our history, without being too graphic. It was a real challenge, but I absolutely loved getting to grips with our local history, in a time period, I have not written in before.”

The setting of Bellingham Castle was chosen due to its location in the centre of the county as well as the magnificence of the castle that can still be visited today.

Sophie Coyle, an illustrator based in Dundalk said: “I have had such fun working with Nicola Cassidy and bringing her wonderful characters to life. ‘Sorcha Queen of the Castle’ is a vivid story easy to imagine and relate to, a delight for any illustrator. The author and I went on a research trip to Bellingham Castle and village, and it was great to see how proud people were of their rich local history. I loved this opportunity to learn more about Louth and to research all the fine old photos from this period of history in the local libraries and online archives.”

The book will be launched on 22nd May 2024 at Dundalk Library in Roden Place. A resource pack is being forwarded to all schools in the county alongside the free copies for distribution. The council hope that teachers and students in Co. Louth will enjoy the story and the in-depth look at our local history.