Birthing the Republic of Ireland
An adventure of a lifetime where the past meets the present.
Birthing the Republic of Ireland uncovers the remarkable life of Frank Bradley, a Protestant Irish immigrant who crossed an ocean, fought in the U.S. Civil War, and dedicated his life to Ireland’s freedom.
Blending family archives, historical research, and Irish oral tradition, Mary Ann Keough discovers a long-lost Irish-American legacy—one of courage, rebellion, faith, and the enduring hope of a nation being born.
“Nothing in my travels gave me such a clear view and better understanding of the Irish heart and hospitality than I found in Ms. Keough’s book.”
About Mary Ann
Mary Ann Keough’s debut book, Birthing the Republic of Ireland, stems from her search into her Irish immigrant great-grandfather’s story. She discovered his role in Ireland’s fight for independence. Her work began with a providential encounter that took her to a Peace Camp for Catholic and Protestant children of Northern Ireland. She then traveled throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland to trace her great-grandfather’s roots and learn what drove him out of Ireland and into his life purpose.