Carlo Gebler, Rosalind Mulholland, Lyndsy Spence.
We certainly are the centre of festivities, up and down the country it’s fairs and festivals, street art and clowning around. One of the most picturesque events has been the Ballyscullion Park Book Fair which supports the Northern Ireland Hospice. Today is the final day and it’s been a great success with the gracious setting, the big house and gardens close to Bellaghy overlooking Lough Beg, the go to place for weddings and film crews. Scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed here and, for the second time, the venue for this literary event. Authors, journalists, documentary makers, stage and screen writers and historians, the speakers are varied and fascinating.
This morning two women authors talk about characters who have engaged them for years, Dr. Sophia Hillan and Lyndsy Spence share secrets about ‘their ladies’, for Sophia it’s Jane Austen and the influence her nieces had on affairs of state and the culture of the time when they lived in Donegal. For Lyndsy her ladies cover a number of 20th century society women but in particular Jean, Viscountess Massereene and Ferrard who lived in Antrim castle. Apart from an active political and social life and her love for theatrical costumes, Jean Massereene was a respected psychic and paranormal expert in the 1920s and wrote about her experiences in a column for the Daily Express. Although in her book She Who Dares, Lyndsy has introduced the reader to ten compelling women who fascinate her including the six infamous Mitford sisters known as the Duchess, the Fascist, the Communist, the Nazi and the Novelist as well as Pamela who lived her life out of the headlines.
Lyndsy Spence
Remarkable Lady Antrim
When we talked recently Lyndsy kept coming back to Jean Massereene as if she knew her well, perhaps being born in Antrim with her playground the estate where the castle once stood brings her close; today, even though it’s now owned by the Antrim Borough Council, there is still the presence of Jean and her 21 year old daughter Diana who is buried in the grounds .
The author herself has an interesting background. Her great great grandfather was of Cuban decent, grandmother was born in San Diego and her mother was Canadian which gave her a personal interest in international history and literature. She thanks to Miss Aiken her English teacher in Park Hall college in Antrim for honing that interest.
Her first book was The Mitford Girls’ Guide to Life in 2013, since than she has written a dozen books, contribute to magazines, newspapers and writing for the screen. Her book on Maria Callas has been translated into a number of languages, in one case causing a problem when a mistranslated word suggested the opera singer was a prostitute. Lindsey admits it’s difficult but doesn’t dwell on it, not did she earlier this year when her book on movie star Vivian Leigh was published to great acclaim in American and London, however, despite this when she offered a copy to the local library for Book Week, they turned her down! Nor will the powers that be contemplate Lyndsy’s campaign to have Lady Antrim commemorated in the town.
Her sights are now set on travelling to Salem to research the spiritual movement and witchcraft in Massachusetts in 1692. More than 200 people were accused, thirty were found guilty, nineteen were executed by hanging.
Sophia Hillan discusses her intriguing book – May, Lou & Cass – Jane Austen’s Nieces In Ireland. How did three gentile ladies arrive in the west of Ireland 200 years ago and what was their life like? Not easy although they were good to the people who worked for them but resented by others. Aunt Jane had advised them not to travel to Ireland but love got in the way, love for husbands and for the colourful lifestyle they enjoyed having married into nobility, No wonder their aunt Jane wasn’t in favour as it was a time of great unrest with the French Revolution, trouble in America and the Famine in Ireland.
Jane Austen 250 Years On
Sophia Hillan
Dr. Hillan has left no stone unturned. May, Lou & Cass took five years to write following a career including assistant director of Queen’s University Belfast’s Institute of Irish Studies and first director of its international Summer School in Irish Studies. This author also has two prize winning novels and a volume of short stories but perhaps the highlight in her research and writing the Austen book has been especially pleasing as were the hours she spend in Jane’s home going through her papers, experiencing the place where she lived and the letters of the time.
Jane was never rich, never married although she had her opinions, one such: ‘Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor – a strong argument for matrimony.’
Sophia has written many acclaimed books but one of my favourites is the Cocktail Hour, delightful short stories with an inner depth, perfect reading over the summer.
Today is the final day at Ballyscullion so, if you are within a couple of hours of Ballaghy there’s still time. Details at www.ballyscullionpark.com
TOILET ISSUES RUMBLE ON
A note from Mr. Marshall following the ruling on the issue of sex at birth.
“On reflecting on what the decision means and the toilet situation can I ask if you have ever been asked what your sex was at birth? Surely that is the only way someone is going to object to someone using the lavatory. If the government don’t appoint “Sex” police the whole toilet issue was not going to be a problem. I agree that it was going to help solve the problem with sportspeople and athletes etc because I feel it is unfair if a man was competing in sport as a woman because he has an unfair advantage etc. Society needs to be careful of knee jerk reactions. The problems being predicted at moment are unfounded.
We should use it to turn the situation to our advantage and help by progressing one inequality we have . We should do away with urinals and all toilets would become unisex and every one use cubicles .
I know it’s idealist and a bit of a utopian world but let’s look at alternatives before we start building transgender toilets and hospital wards etc.”
One for all and all for one. Makes sense.