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Irish Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
For Valerie by David French: A very personal study of femicide that is ‘dedicated to the silenced women'
For Valerie Author : David French ISBN-13 : 978-1804583296 Publisher : Gill Books Guideline Price : €18.99 Valerie French , a mother of three very young boys, was 'savagely slaughtered' by her husband, the Central Criminal Court in Dublin was told last year. In a victim impact statement read in court, her brother David also said that her murder in June 2019 'was violent and prolonged, with multiple assaults and several major injuries ... She died in terror for her own life and the lives of her children.' He added that the fatal stroke suffered by their mother, also named Valerie, five months later, was 'a direct consequence' of Valerie's murder. James Kilroy, originally from Oldcastle, Co Meath, inflicted 57 wounds on Valerie when he murdered her outside their home near Islandeady, close to Westport, Co Mayo. She was the third Irish woman whose partner was charged with murder in the first half of 2019, a year in which 14 children lost their mother through domestic homicide. She was one of more than 274 women killed violently by a man in Ireland over the past 30 years, an average of more than nine a year. [ People convicted of killing their spouse face losing guardianship rights Opens in new window ] Kilroy, who is serving a life sentence for Valerie's murder, retains legal guardianship of the three boys that he abandoned when he fled on the night of the murder. He also has full ownership of their former home, whose mortgage Valerie's salary paid and which is mortgage-free under a life assurance policy, David French writes. READ MORE As godfather to Valerie's sons, he attended all of the preliminary court and inquest hearings and every day of the trials. He wants Irish laws changed to ensure that men who kill their partners are automatically prevented from having a say in the children's lives. His distressing and important book is 'dedicated to the silenced women'. It distils much of David French's extensive reading about femicide and domestic abuse in Ireland and abroad. It will not ease the shock and horror of the family and friends of the next women to be murdered by a male partner, but it will give them valuable advice and it will show them that they are not alone in their suffering and loss.
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Birds of Ireland: Collared dove
Collared Dove | Fearán baicdhubh | Streptopelia decaocto A collared dove is about 30-32 centimetres long with a wing span of 49-53cm. They are a common breeding species found in farmland and in gardens here all year around. A collared dove is slightly smaller than a jackdaw and both sexes look similar. They have a short, thin, dark beak; dark red eyes; short, powdery-pink legs. Collared doves of all ages have sandy-brown plumage, dark brown primaries, and a distinctive (but not always noticeable) thin, black half-collar at the base of their neck. Recently fledged birds have no half collar. In flight a collared dove looks sandy-brown with darker wing tips visible as are the pale tips to most tail feathers, and their large, white undertail band. A collared dove flies straight with fast, jerky wingbeats. For its display behaviour a collared dove glides with stiff, slightly downcurved wings/fanned tail, showing pale under-wing/white undertail with black band at base. Its voice is a gentle cooing sound phrased like ' can yoouuu coo' repeated twice or more. Birds of Ireland: Collared dove Tip of the week: Separating the calls of the collared dove and woodpigeon is easy if you remember that collared doves seem to say, ' Can yoouuu coo ... can yoouuu coo ...', while the similar-sounding woodpigeon 'says' ' take two, John, take two'. There are some very reliable websites with excellent libraries of bird sounds, such as Doves and pigeons are characterised by very short legs, small heads and cooing calls. The most common member of this group is the woodpigeon, which can be a serious pest to farmers. The most recent arrival is the collared dove, unheard of here before 1959, and now widespread and common. Featured in Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide, (Gill Books) by Jim Wilson, with photographs by Mark Carmody Birds of Ireland: A field guide By Jim Wilson, with photographs by Mark Carmody Jim Wilson is a wildlife writer, broadcaster, tour leader, and former chairman of BirdWatch Ireland. He has been involved in the study and conservation of birds in Ireland for more than 45 years, contributing to several major surveys and international projects. Mark Carmody is an award-winning wildlife photographer, has a PhD in biochemistry and works as a European patent attorney. Read More Birds of Ireland: Magpie
RTÉ News
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
RTÉjr Book Club: New voices step out into the sun this May
In this month's RTÉjr Book Club, with thanks to our friends at Children's Books Ireland, Ruth Concannon showcases new voices in Irish Children's Books. What better way to enjoy a long sunny evening than by discovering your new favourite writer? If you are a dedicated reader, I bet you have a favourite author or illustrator! You've probably read all their stories and eagerly await their latest books, rushing to the library or your local bookshop to grab a copy whenever they're in stock. Loyalty to your favourite is a fantastic thing but remember there are so many more favourites for you to still discover. Branching out into something new can be really exciting! This month's book club highlights six new voices in Irish children's books. These authors and illustrators have bravely put their first books out into the world and are seeking readers just like you to enjoy their stories. We have picturebooks, non-fiction stories, graphic novels and plenty of action and adventure this month, but for more books from Irish artists you can always check out our website for further recommendations. The Lost Treasure of Clew Bay by Sarah Kilcoyne, Gill Books, 32PP, ISBN 9781804582145 There are places in the world that have magic hidden inside them, and this début picturebook from Sarah Kilcoyne is one of them. The Lost Treasure of Clew Bay is a unique trip around the wild and magical Mayo coastline. When Saoirse visits her grandad on holiday, she ends up on an enchanting adventure sailing around Clew Bay with her dog Nessa. Saoirse is on the hunt for the mythical lost treasure of Clew Bay, once rumoured to have belonged to the legendary Granuaile and now seemingly lost forever. While the story leaves a question mark as to whether there is treasure in Clew Bay, there is no doubt that treasure abounds here in this book. (Age 5–7) Don't Trust Fish! By Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat, Andersen Press, 40PP, ISBN 9781839136429 Lurking under water, where nobody can see them, the idea is that fish are watching over all us humans, scheming our downfall. Positioning fish as inherently untrustworthy, there is no end to the narrator's crazy ruminations about fish, including the thought that they hide long legs that they will one day use to take over the world! The reader is reminded constantly that, although they may look harmless, it's important not to be duped by these cunning fish. A self-aware story that can laugh at itself too, it is filled with the type of imagination that every child has and every grown-up likes to remember. (Age 5–7) How to Love the Whole World: A Story About Artist Agnes Martin by Henry Martin, illustrated by Shelley Hampe, Cameron Kids, 40PP, ISBN 9781949480535 This is a beautiful and inspiring picturebook that introduces young readers to the work and mindset of the renowned artist Agnes Martin. The story offers a gentle, poetic exploration of how art can express love and emotion, while also highlighting the struggles that come with the creative process. The story delves into various aspects of art, such as the use of colour, shape, space, and line. How to Love the Whole World is an insightful and visually captivating book that encourages young readers to embrace art as a way to express love and understand the world around them. (Non-fiction, Age 5–7, 8–10) Amelia Cheeseheart Investigates: Mummy Mayhem! By Cat Weldon, illustrated by Nene Lonergan, Guppy Books, 128PP, ISBN 9781916558359 Meet Amelia Cheeseheart, a brave and adventurous mouse aviator, and her best friend Webster, a banana-loving spider. They love hanging out together, and when items start to go missing at the museum, Amelia and Webster are determined to solve the mystery. Illustrated in a charming style, by Irish illustrator and Raising Voices fellow, Nene Lonergan, Amelia and Webster are captivating. The fun-filled plot is sure to be a winner for graphic novel fans and early readers alike. A story that will inspire readers to dream of adventures, explore different historical eras and with a sequel planned for later this year, we haven't seen the last of Amelia's adventures! (Graphic novel, Age 5–7, 8–10) Giant by Judith McQuoid, Little Island Books, 224PP, ISBN 9781915071828 This lovely historical novel, McQuoid's début, takes place over a period of time in the life of the young C.S. Lewis. This is not, however, a biography of the iconic writer – the story is about Davy Caruth, a young Belfast boy who befriends Lewis, known personally to him as Jacks. Davy and Jacks's friendship helps them to navigate a transitional period when both are dealing with personal challenges. The novel is equally hopeful, magical and heartbreaking as Davy and Jacks face growing up and the pressures and expectations of their families. This book is truly a touching and universal tale of growing up and the beauty of friendship and creativity. (Age 10–12) The Doomsday Club by Kevin Moran, The O'Brien Press, 266PP, ISBN 9781788495264 Beginning in an ancient primary-school building, but featuring characters who are bang up-to-date, this zingy novel borrows from Irish mythology while exploring themes of friendship, bullying, bravery and growing up. No time is wasted in delivering the reader straight into the action alongside Jack, Conan, Yash and Jerry, classmates who wouldn't exactly call themselves friends but find themselves banded together once they witness a shape-shifting creature emerge from a portal right outside their school yard during a rainy-day detention. This confident, enjoyable début will appeal hugely to fans of Eoin Colfer and Dave Rudden and with a second book in the works, there's plenty of adventures ahead for the Doomsday Club! (Age 10–12) Ruth Concannon is the Publications Officer for Children's Books Ireland, the national charity and arts organisation that champions every child's right to develop a love of reading. Their mission is to inspire a love of reading in children and young people in Ireland, to share their expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence them, to champion every child's right to excellent books and live literature events and support the artists who make that goal possible across the island of Ireland.
