AN EXCITING new addition to Irish culture in Scotland arrived in the form of a new children’s book written by Cathleen Armstrong—with captivating illustrations from the
talented Michael Dudgeon.
Long nursing a dream to bring her stories to life, Cathleen’s story, Éamonn’s Magic Whistle—the first of many with several more engaging tales in the works—draws the young reader into the time of Red Hugh O’Donnell, transported there courtesy of Éamonn’s magic tin whistle. It sees the characters—based on her own beloved family, across the generations—engage with the Ireland of the distant past and is brought alive by the music, song and Irish language, which has been such a feature of her own life.
Included in the books are instructive musical pieces, one of which, Head for Home, was
composed by Cathleen’s son Joseph, who grew up playing music as part of the Irish Minstrels CCÉ.
“I first met Michael when he attended my son’s music class,” Cathleen said, “At the class one day, I happened to mention that I had written children’s books. Michael said that he was studying art at school and could draw one of my characters. He did, and I was absolutely delighted with what he had done. He really brought my characters to life.”
With a larger book launch planned in Scotland in the new year, and a smaller event on the horizon in Donegal, Éamonn’s Magic Whistle got its first public reception at the St Patrick’s CCÉ Christmas party in Coatbridge (above), where Cathleen had been invited. This pre-launch event saw the traditional Irish music community in Scotland gather for their first look at the book, and there was the warmest of receptions by those who have known and worked with Cathleen for many years.
“It was a really nice event, and I was delighted to see that word of the book had already been spreading,” Cathleen said. “There’s been great interest from the various groups within Scotland and across in Ireland. It’s a book that can be picked up and read and enjoyed for the story, but I really wanted it to be one which would help any young reader on a musical journey too. The music at the back of the book is something that can be picked up and referred to, even long after the story has been read. That musical element has been so important to me throughout my life, and for the whole Irish community in Scotland, and it was something that I really wanted to help bring to life in the story.
“I also included language index pages at the back of the book, as some of the characters in the story speak as Gaeilge. To help me with this, I called on two of my good friends in Ireland, Brian O’Donnell and Marcas Ó’Murchú, both gaelic scholars. I feel it is important to encourage and promote the Irish language, especially with our young people.”
While there is great interest from many people in Ireland, the Irish community in Scotland can take particular pride in the fact that the book—although a truly Irish expression of culture—is something which has been born here, and reflects the vibrant community life of the Irish in Scotland.
“I can remember the days where you would have whole weekends of dances in Glasgow,” Cathleen reflected. “It was a serious business for the Donegal people, and you could fill a whole weekend socialising and enjoying traditional Irish music and dance. There are ways the culture has changed in that time, and we don’t see those
regular big gatherings the same way today, but the music is still a huge part of our lives.
“Through the book I’ve been able to put my own children and grandchildren on the page with great figures from our past and make music the central focus of how I did it. It has been so special for me to do that, and I really hope that others will get the same kind of joy out of reading it as I did from writing it.”
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