Offaly artist's Graphic Novel set in the Midlands launched to much praise

A graphic novel by Birr artist Seán Hogan was launched by Professor Paul Rouse in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre recently

"Brotherhood" is 76 pages and is set in the Midlands. The book starts when Macdara, a young Irish teen, is accidentally involved in the death of a British Black and Tan constable.

To cover his tracks, he and his friends, Colm, Ciara, and Seamus, form the Brotherhood. The book is a coming of age story, with the natural teenage instinct to rebel being heightened by the war around the characters.

With a rich cast of characters, rural Irish setting, and sharp commentary on the myths of heroism and the cost of freedom, Brotherhood offers a fresh and original perspective on a pivotal moment in Irish history.

“You’ve never seen Irish history explored like this,” said one enthusiastic reader of the novel.

Brotherhood is Seán's 3rd graphic novel. “I began writing it all the way back in 2018,” the author said. “The book is so big that I had to split it into 2 parts to make it more manageable. I began drawing it in 2022 when I lived in Copenhagen, and finally it's ready for publishing! Comics are a tonne of work, from writing and then drawing, so I'm super excited that Part 1 is finally finished. I began writing the book as a way to understand Irish history better, and I felt there wasn't enough fiction set during this important time. Brotherhood is the most ambitious thing I've ever made and I'm very excited people are now going to read it.”

Seán also spoke about his love for his hometown: “Growing up in the Birr area has definitely shaped my artistic interests a lot. Brotherhood is historical fiction and I think Birr is unique with how much historical intrigue it has. When I was a teenager I was the youngest member of Birr Historical Society which was very interesting at the time.

"Working for many years as a tour guide in Birr Castle definitely heightened my love of Irish history and made me want to explore it in fiction. There's always so much art happening in Birr too, from Vintage Week to OFFline, that you can't help but be inspired to create art - most of my friends from school are artists in some way and I don't think that's a coincidence!

The book can be ordered on line at https://www.sean-hogan.com/brotherhood