Introducing 'Patrick Cleary' from my book, 'A Magdalene Rose'

Those who have been following my blog, or through the social networks, will have been witness to all that I have written about my book, 'A Magdalene Rose', since May of this year.

Through that commentary I have talked about the four remarkable people in my book, one of whom was my paternal grandfather, Patrick Cleary.

Following my journey across Ireland, meeting many people and receiving hundreds of questions, I not only met people who knew the Cleary's but I also started to begin to understand the nature of the family and of the land that was theirs.

But several weeks after I returned from Ireland, I received contact from a family who lived in Birmingham UK and in Kentucky, USA. They were connected to the Cleary's through marriage. I would sincerely like to thank this family for their kindness, the time they have given me and their generosity.

In the weeks that have followed, a story has evolved which supports everything I had already learned and spoken about in my book. But, what I have come to know is the very nature of Patrick, a kind, quiet and generous man but a man who truly did suffer for his crime, the crime of being a father out of wedlock.

The story of the Cleary's is sad for many other reasons and one day, I hope to be able to share that story exclusively with all those who have purchased my book.

There is still much to discover and this will take me through 2026; I will keep all those who follow me updated.

In the course of this latest encounter, I have received the first photograph of my grandfather; a farmer, a man in love, a decent man, a man unjustly treated. Justice is coming.