JOE O’HAGAN

Irish Mythology has always had a strong hold on my imagination. Growing up I was surrounded by tales of Fionn mac Cumhaill, fairies and the legends of Cú Chulainn. I remember passing every mountain and christening it “Knocknasheega” after watching the movie, Darby O’Gill and the Little People, and being somewhat traumatised by the Banshee’s appearance. I mean, who wasn’t at least a little traumatised by her? It’s no wonder that a book centred around Irish mythology was on the cards at some point in my life. That’s where Black Bridge comes in.

The truth is, Black Bridge popped into existence on a trip back from one of our many family stays in Donegal when I was a young teen. Watching the mountains and landscape race by, I imagined all of the myths and legends that had circled about in ancient culture and the grand tales they must have told one another. The story materialised from nowhere, almost fully formed and ready to write. I could see it! Arriving home, I dove in, finishing the first chapter in an evening and… that was as far as I got. I wanted to write it but felt ill-equipped to tackle what I saw as a huge undertaking. I needed to grow.

Over the years I made a few futile attempts to restart the book, always claiming that I had this killer book idea in the back of my mind. It wasn’t until 2020 hit and we were all locked in our homes with nothing but our thoughts that Black Bridge in its current form finally emerged. The first draft was hashed out in a whirlwind month of writing, researching, staring blankly at computer screens and non-stop thinking about the world I was crafting. Not just crafting, but inhabiting a pantheon of stories that so many others had imagined before. My research before, during and after the book uncovered stories from ancient Ireland and Celtic cultures that would shock and fascinate anyone whose perception of Irish folklore hadn’t yet extended beyond a leprechaun and a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Stories that wouldn’t look out of place in the highest of fantasy. This was what I wanted, the ancient stuff, the real stuff.

My goal was to explore this Otherworld, to delve into what Irish mythology had to offer beyond the relatively bland pop culture version that permeates the media and my characters were vehicles to do so. What I didn’t realise, however, was just how important the characters of Lorcan, Maeve and Oisin would become to me and how they would go on to influence and shape the story I believed had already been set in stone. I might be guilty of burying the lead here, but I think it’s important that you, the reader, know the journey that led up to the writing of Black Bridge. Plus, that’s the hook of most stories. Come for the adventure and fantastical stuff, stay for the characters. Now that you’ve made it this far, I suppose it’s time to talk about the contents of the book.

The plot of Black Bridge is set in the fictional rural village of Droichead Dubh, a sleepy place nestled in the mountains of Donegal and inextricably linked to the ancient past. One of our main cast, Lorcan, finds himself forced to live here with his aunt after the sudden death of his parents in an accident. Lucky for him Droichead Dubh’s connection to the Otherworld has given him the chance to commune with his parents once again. Thus the inciting incident for the story sets everything in motion, with Maeve and Oisin becoming embroiled in the adventures of the Irish Otherworld and the dangerous politics that lie within. Along the way they encounter a host of different characters and creatures from Irish mythology, one of the most menacing being the Dullahan (or headless horseman as we may know him) who seems to have it out for the group. They also explore a version of the Otherworld that has been built with and warped by centuries of ideas and perceptions as to what this realm of the dead and Irish legends is.

In writing the book I came to adore Irish myths and stories so much more than I had before but, as I alluded to before, it was the characters and their own exploration of the world that came to define the experience for me. In my previous attempts at writing Black Bridge I thought that I had lacked the knowledge or temerity to put my own stamp on Irish mythology. What I really lacked was the emotional maturity or empathy to handle the themes I had established for the characters. Those themes being intense grief and choosing to live with that or letting it consume you. In finding that empathy I was able to laugh with them, be angry with them and shed tears with them. It may sound trite, but spending time with Lorcan, Maeve and Oisin felt real and I still feel guilty for the trials and tribulations that I’ve put them through.

It’s all well and good to feel for your own story but the early readers were instrumental in identifying the areas that resonated. I was heartened to find that they too enjoyed the adventurous escapades in the Otherworld, theorising their own ideas of where they thought the plot might go and being surprised at the twists along the way. Though, I was even more heartened when they identified with the characters, their relationships and their struggles. A stand out moment was being sent a tearful selfie accompanied with the words “I hate you!” - yep, I hated me too and I also knew then that this story might have legs. After all of the editing, feedback sessions, designing and formatting (self-publishing is a lot of work) Black Bridge is now a fully-fledged published book. It was a terrifying yet exhilarating experience releasing this story, which had been mine and ever so personal to me, into the world. However, I couldn’t be happier at the initial feedback from readers and publications.

“The characters’ emotions and thoughts were well portrayed in a descriptive manner that made everything in the book seem so real…The storyline itself was original and new, unlike most of the books I have read recently.” - onlinebookclub.org

“The book is emotional, funny and adventurous. It is easy to read and flows very well. It genuinely left me tense, anxious, frightened and wanting more. I can’t wait until book 2 comes out!” - Amazon review

“I haven’t read a book in one sitting in years but I was glued to this one. It’s not your average YA novel but a book for all ages. Such an interesting story, well written characters, even things to learn about Irish mythology!” - Amazon review

The experience has even sparked my own series of videos covering various aspects of Irish mythology I’ve learned about in bite sized chunks. Notably, TikTok seems to have an audience eager to hear about the more unknown myths and tales, which I never would have guessed, but it’s been fun engaging with people on the topic.

Black Bridge is only the first in a series, with book number two well into the research and draft phase, but I’m happy that for now, people might be introduced to another side of Irish mythology that is often overlooked. Maybe they’ll be inspired to research and explore the Otherworld themselves.

Right now, Black Bridge can be found on Amazon on Kindle or paperback.

Socials:

Website: blackbridgebook.com

Facebook: Joe O’Hagan & Black Bridge Book Series

Insta: johphotos

LinkedIn: Joe O’Hagan

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A contemporary fantasy novel that draws from ancient Irish mythology, reinterpreting it for a modern audience. Our perceptions have shaped the Otherworld. What will happen when two worlds collide?

Website: blackbridgebook.com

Facebook: Joe O’Hagan & Black Bridge Book Series

Insta: johphotos

LinkedIn: Joe O’Hagan

TikTok: @blackbridgeseries