‘Blue Murder in Moville: A Whodunnit from Inishowen’ set to be launched later this month

One of Inishowen’s busiest authors is at it again, with another new book ready for launch later this month.

Seoirse O’Dochartaigh’s latest work – ‘Blue Murder in Moville: A Whodunnit from Inishowen’ – is a crime caper set at the turn of the last century. Or is it?

The action begins in Moville on the evening of the 1901 census, with a subplot that unfolds the next day in nearby Greencastle, where bizarre things appear to be happening.

On the night of the census, there had been a little altercation in a spirit-grocer’s close to Norrie’s. The next morning, the townspeople and the local constabulary are disturbed by the discovery of what looks like a crime scene.

There’s a blue outline of a person on the main road through the town, and it appears that someone may have been murdered. But who? And where is the body?

The author says the story came to him in a flash, and he started putting pen to paper.

Despite recent health issues, O’Dochartaigh, who lives in rural Mossyglen in the parish of Moville, shows no sign of slowing his literary output. Incredibly, Blue Murder is his thirteenth publication in recent years.

“I had an idea that amused me, floating around my head for a little story about the townland of Eleven Ballyboes in Greencastle, and I was wondering how I could develop it,” he explains.

“A while later, I was doing some research on the 1901 census, after reading the Reverend Henry Montgomery’s book on the history of Moville.”

“Out of the blue came this light-hearted whodunnit story, and a couple of characters, both upstanding and not so upstanding. So I got out a pen and paper and started writing.”

“The different elements segued together easily, and Blue Murder in Moville was born. It actually all came together very quickly, and I enjoyed the process of writing it very much,” he smiles.

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The book has been an entirely local venture: from conception through publication – something that’s important to its creator.

“I’m delighted to have this book be another whole Inishowen production. The talented designer Anna Henry did the layout, while Foyle Press in Carndonagh did the printing. Both are great to work with,” O’Dochartaigh adds.

‘Blue Murder in Moville: A Whodunnit from Inishowen’ will be officially launched in the Moville Library at 2pm on Friday, October 17. Everyone welcome.

The price for the book is €10, and it will be available from Supervalu in Carndonagh as well as online via: www.seoirse.com