Free 1916 talk in Athlone Library

‘Grandpa the Sniper’ is the intriguing title of a new book on 1916 which will be the subject of a free talk in Athlone Library tomorrow evening at 6pm.

Written by Frank Shouldice Jnr. an investigative journalist and dramatist, the book tells the fascinating story of his grandfather (also Frank Shouldice) who though born in Ballaghaderreen lined up with his brother Jack for the Dublin football team in the final of the GAA’s Croke Cup in 1916.

Shortly after the Shouldice brothers lined out for Dublin in Croke Park they found themselves embroiled in the Easter Rising in the city.  Frank Shouldice was a sniper based in the Malthouse attached to the Jameson distillery at North King Street.

Interestingly, John F. Shouldice, or Jack as he was known, was the Commanding Officer over Athlone’s Sean Costello during Easter week.

His brother Frank, a veteran marksman kept many personal letters received during his various periods of incarceration in Ireland, England and Wales. The author in researching for his book ‘Grandpa the Sniper’ examined these personal records but also trawled through the national archives and military records – in the course of his research he un-earthed an MI5 surveillance file on the “most disloyal” Shouldice family!

In the course of his talk Frank Shouldice Jnr, a producer/director with RTE’s Investigations Unit, who himself has produced a number of in-depth documentaries, both for television and radio, will speak about what it meant to write about his grandfather – his book has been very positively received by the critics and Prof Diarmaid Ferriter has described it as ‘absorbing’ and ‘rich evocative and vivid’.

For anyone interested in the 1916 Rising this talk should be a fascinating opportunity to hear the story of a man who was central to events in North King Street. The talk will be presented in conjunction with Athlone Community Radio.