Martha Geaney's Blog, page 3

Keem Bay Beach Ranked as Number One

Keem Bay, Achill Island just ranked as number one in the world. Just in time, because a heat wave hit Ireland recently with 30 degree centigrade temperatures. That’ s about 90 for us folks who use Fahrenheit. Wow! That is hot.

Attribution: (Callum Black / Cliffs near Achill Head)

I’ve been in Ireland several times when the temperatures heated up. And, without air conditioning in the cottage or the car, it can get downright sticky. But luckily, County Mayo has some of the most beautiful beaches in world. You will find one of several of those beaches on Achill Island. The beach which ranked as number one rests against Keem Bay!

Keem Bay is one of those magical places! To get there, you cross the bridge onto Achill Island. And then you move along “Atlantic Drive”. Whatever you do, keep your eyes on the road. The ocean swirls against the rocky, sharp-edged coast below! You will pass by Ashleam Bay, Dooeega, the Meenaun Cliffs, Keel, Doagh, and then finally at the end of a narrow, corkscrew road, you come to the end of the line: Keem Bay.

Keem Bay, Achill Island (Photo author: Sergio on Wikimedia Creative Commons Usage 2.0)

I’ve been to Keem Bay many times. It’s beauty is planted in my brain. I’ve even dreamed of swimming there with the dolphins.

What about you? Where do you go to in your mind when you need to escape the heat?

Thank you so much for reading my blog post today. Please use the buttons below to share with your friends. If you haven’t already, sign up for my newsletter with stories and updates about Star O’Brien’s adventures in County Mayo, Ireland. Here’s the link: https://www.subscribepage.com/marthageaney

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My Cozy Ink Podcast Interview is LIVE!

Excited to share the link to my Cozy Ink Podcast interview. I have to admit I was nervous at first but Leah is a wonderful interviewer. We talked about the series heroine, Star O’Brien and why she is in Ireland. I also shared what it is like to be an American writing a series that is set in another country. Here’s the link to the interview: https://cozyinkpodcast.com/?p=1267.

Leah is the creative force behind and host of the Cozy Ink Podcast interview series. Fans get to listen to their favorite authors about a variety of topics, including new releases, characters, and mystery adventures. Leah also interviews authors about their writing process. I expect that portion of our interview will be broadcast at another time. If you’d like to know about the award winning author, Leah Bailey, you reach her at: Leah Bailey’s web site. Leah is also on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

I do hope you enjoy listening to the interview. Here’s the link again: Listen to Martha’s Interview with Leah Bailey You may just learn something you don’t already know about Star O’Brien.

Happy Listening!

Thank you so much for reading my blog post today. Please use the buttons below to share with your friends. If you haven’t already, sign up for my newsletter with stories and updates about Star O’Brien’s adventures in County Mayo, Ireland. Here’s the link: https://www.subscribepage.com/marthageaney

Yours truly, 

Martha 

P.S. Please drop me a note and let me know if you liked the interview. Thank you. 

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Irish American Mom blog features my guest post

I’m guest blogging on Mairead’s Irish American Mom’s web site this Saturday, June 5. Be sure to click on over there to read my post. The post is about why I set my books in Ireland. To celebrate, I’ve donated autographed copies of the first two books in the Star O’Brien County Mayo mystery series. Follow this link https://www.irishamericanmom.com/ to Mairead’s web site and enjoy the read.

What’s not to love about County Mayo, Ireland?

So, until next time, here’s to a great start of your June.

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What is it about Ireland?

What is it about Ireland that you love? The landscape, the history, the thin places, the Atlantic views? These are all things to love about Ireland..

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but what I love most are the people.

I fell in love when I was four years old with my County Mayo aunts and uncles. I often think about what keeps bringing me back. What is it that I cannot wait to get back to? My heart and yes, I will admit, my soul, yearns for Ireland and the people I miss seeing.

These people are friends from my boarding school days in St. Joseph’s Convent of Mercy in Castlebar and my first cousins. We may be 3,000 miles apart but they have always been there for me. For the good and the bad. Through my Dad’s Alzheimer disease and death, my breast cancer, my Mom’s dementia, and Bill’s vision loss. They have always been there for the good as well; rallying around. That’s what I love about Ireland: the people, the joy, the positive outlook, the willingness to get together for a hooley, a cup of tea, or a walk. So, as the pandemic nears an end, I cannot wait to get to the other side of the pond sometime this year.

What about you? Where are you yearning to go in the next few months?

Thank you so much for reading my blog post today. Please use the buttons below to share with your friends. If you haven’t already, sign up for my newsletter with stories and updates about Star O’Brien’s adventures in County Mayo, Ireland. Newsletter sign up link: https://www.subscribepage.com/marthageaney

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Win a Free Copy of “Death on Clare Island”

Win Bundle of Over 50 Books

I am excited to say I’ve contributed “Death on Clare Island: A County Mayo Cozy Mystery” the first book in the Star O’Brien, amateur sleuth, series to a book giveaway this week. The contest begins this morning at 10:00 a.m. and ends on May 12. Winners of the giveaway, which is sponsored by BookSweeps, will receive the first book in a woman’s sleuth series. Over 50 books!

See my book cover! It’s third from the right in the second row. Here’s How You Enter the Giveaway

Click on this link https://www.booksweeps.com/giveaway/may-2021/women-sleuth-mysteries/ and then click the “I want to win” button. You will be asked for your email address which you must enter to be eligible for the giveaway.

Good luck! I hope you are one of the winners! There’s lots of books to read here for the summer months.

Thank you so much for reading my blog post today. Please use the buttons below to share with your friends. If you haven’t already, sign up for my newsletter with stories and updates about Star O’Brien’s adventures in County Mayo, Ireland. Newsletter sign up link: https://www.subscribepage.com/marthageaney

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Meet me in Westport, County Mayo

I’ve been dreaming of gathering Star O’Brien fans together for a trip to County Mayo, Ireland and a visit to many of the places in the series. But alas travel to the Emerald Isle is still not recommended by the CDC. So since we cannot make a trip to County Mayo right now, I have to settle with sharing some of my research photos and a snippet of a scene from the first book in the series: Death on Clare Island: A Star O’Brien Mystery.

Today I’m visiting Westport and invite you to have a virtual coffee or tea at Curry’s Cottage, Bakery, and Tea Room. It’s one of my favorite places and a must go to whenever I’m in County Mayo. Here’s a link to their Facebook page and a some pictures I took when we were there in 2019. https://www.facebook.com/curryscottage/

Curry’s Cottage where Star & Lucia have coffee. That’s me! Having lunch at Curry’s Cottage.

Star and Lucia (one of the characters in Death on Clare Island) have a hot chocolate in Curry’s when Star meets the teenager Here’s an excerpt from the scene:

“Why don’t we have a cup of coffee?” I said, nodding toward Curry’s green window sashes.

She nodded, shifting the books in her arms, and turned into Curry’s narrow door. Then she walked toward an empty table and placed the books on a chair. I offered to get our drinks while she waited. She wanted a hot chocolate.

After a few minutes of warming our hands on the hot mugs and taking our first careful sips, I asked again, “So why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”

She removed the stocking cap and pushed her blonde hair behind her ears.

“Nothing. Nothing is going on. Matthew promised to give me a book about the history of women and art. I don’t know why, but I thought I might still get it. Perhaps his sister, umm….” Her voice faltered as the words ran out.

“What, Lucia? You thought his sister might be at the apartment?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t know. I thought if I hung around I’d see someone. But then I saw you and I got scared.” She punctuated the sentence with another shrug.

I sat back in my chair and pushed my mug away to the side to clear the space between us. “So what is it you’re afraid of? What else do you know about Matthew, and what happened on Clare Island? You know that Sharon Dawson is dead, don’t you?”

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“Yes, I heard it on the radio. I can’t. I don’t know anything about it, though. She and Matthew fought a lot. That’s all I know for certain. That and the fact that I just want to be an artist and get away from that island.” Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked away from me to her pile of books.

Was she telling me the truth, or was she putting on a dramatic act? Teenagers—it’s hard to size them up. Their emotional range often changes within a few minutes.

I decided to treat her more like an adult than a teenager.

“Lucia, you realize that if you know anything, you’re in danger. There’s no doubt now with Sharon’s death that there’s a killer at work here. Don’t you think it would be wise to tell someone if you have any knowledge about her and Matthew?” I paused, waiting for these ideas to sink in.

“I don’t know any more than what I’ve already told you,” she snapped back. Then she reached for the stocking cap and pulled it down over her hair again. “My parents don’t want me speaking with you or anyone else about Matthew.”

“Why not, Lucia? What are you hiding? Were you planning on meeting someone in Westport?” I had to rush my questions since she was obviously preparing to bolt.

She stood up, grabbed her books, and tossed some euros on the table. “I have to go or I’ll miss the bus back to Roonagh Quay, and my parents will worry.”

I nodded. I wasn’t going to learn anymore from her now. I hoped to God she was telling the truth about not knowing anything further about Matthew and Sharon.

Her eyes pleaded with me, I noticed.

For her sake.

Thank you so much for reading my blog post today. Please use the buttons below to share with your friends. If you haven’t already, sign up for my newsletter with stories and updates about Star O’Brien’s adventures in County Mayo, Ireland.

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Do you know about Tochar-Phadraig and Saint Patrick?

If you’ve never heard of Saint Patrick and the Pilgrim’s Path (Tochar-Phadraig in Irish), then you need to head over to Mairead’s Irish American Mom website and read my guest post today: https://www.irishamericanmom.com/the-pilgrim-path-or-tochar-phadraig/.

I’m grateful and thrilled to be on Mairead’s award winning web site. The site is filled with lots of information about Irish culture, history, and literature. There are also many wonderful Irish recipes. I hope you enjoy my guest post.

Thank you so much for reading my blog post today. Please use the buttons below to share with your friends. If you haven’t already, sign up for my newsletter with stories and updates about Star O’Brien’s adventures in County Mayo, Ireland.

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Another reason to love County Mayo

March belongs to St. Patrick. So today’s post features Downpatrick Head. Another breathtakingly beautiful place in County Mayo where Patrick visited.

Photo from Ireland Highlights.com

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A Spud Recipe for St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner.

Photo by Hayley Catherine on Unsplash

You may be thinking of making corned beef and cabbage. But have you considered your potato side dish? Well, look no more because I have a “champ” for you to make. Yes, that’s right there’s a potato dish called “champ”. It is also called “poundies” (I wonder why?) and brúitín in Irish.

[image error]Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Some of my earliest memories are of my mother making champ for my brother and I. We still lived in the Bronx at that time. We’d sit at the kitchen table and my mother would place this huge bowl of mashed potatoes in front of us. In the middle of the potato mound, she’d make a big well and fill it with butter. Yum! I loved getting the part of the mashed dish with all the melting butter swirling through it!

Champ is easy to make. The recipe calls for scallions, potatoes, butter, milk or cream, salt and pepper. My mom never used the scallions; she just added a generous knob of butter. When I don’t have scallions on hand, I use finely diced white onions (there’s always one in my refrigerator). You will find lots of recipes on the internet for champ. If the recipe doesn’t mention adding the onion or scallion to the milk or cream (which you will want to warm), then I recommend doing so. The flavors will enhance the milk/cream. And, of course, when I can, I use Kerrygold unsalted butter (lots of it).

So, give champ a try. I think you’ll love it.

Thank you so much for reading my blog post today. I hope you enjoyed it. Please use the buttons below to share with your friends. If you haven’t already, sign up for my newsletter with stories and updates about Star O’Brien’s adventures in County Mayo, Ireland.

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What is your favorite mystery podcast?

Reading is still my number one favorite pastime. But when I’m on a long walk or in a doctor’s office waiting room, I love to put in my earplugs and listen to an interview of a mystery author.

Photo by Melanie Pongratz on Unsplash

I recently discovered a search engine for podcasts that you might not know about: https://www.listennotes.com. This is a neat website that allows you search for podcasts by subject, title, or author.

One of my favorite podcasts features interviews with the authors who write mysteries: “It’s a mystery podcast” hosted by Alexandra Amor. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/its-a-mystery-podcast-alexandra-amor-award-bsEQ27h5Fk9/. Another which features author interviews is “The Cozy Corner with Alexia Gordon”:https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-cozy-corner-with-alexia-gordon-alexia-o4zmT6N1g0I/

Maybe you prefer to listen to podcasts of actual mystery novels such as some of the classics like Agatha Christie. Then you might want to try The Classic Tales Podcast: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-classic-tales-podcast-bj-harrison-Lev39AF8UMZ/.

So tell me, what is your favorite podcast?

Thank you so much for reading my blog post today. I hope you enjoyed it. Please use the buttons below to share with your friends. If you haven’t already, sign up for my newsletter with stories and updates about Star O’Brien’s adventures in County Mayo, Ireland.

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