I’ve been trying to explain the Irish political landscape from c. 1170-1500 as part of my book on Gráinne O Malley and it’s been…challenging but also a bit exhilarating to try and make what is essentially Game of Thrones in a little country comprehensible in a trade book.

Still working on it but it also inspired my posts that are coming this week. One is on Diarmait MacMurchada - the man blamed for inviting the Anglo-Normans in and the other is on his partner in alleged crime - Dearbhfhorgaill. The woman whose lusts apparently caused Diarmait’s invitation to happen.

Anyway, I’ll be doing some myth busting in the posts and honestly, she’s just amazing. As for him? Well, he’s terrible but in a very twelfth century Irish way..

posts also have little character bios and pronunciation guides if anyone wants to practice saying Dearbhfhorgaill out loud