Dark Queen of Donegal by MaryPat Ferron Canes

PEN WOMEN PRESS

Emerging out of the Gaelic past, a remarkable woman, Ineen Dubh, walks and rides across the pages of Mary Pat Ferron Canes' and JR Foley's historical novel as bravely and as tangibly as her historical counterpart. Breaking the constrictions of a woman's role in the 16th Century, this Dark Queen of Donegal moves through this Irish historical fiction like a tempest. This "Dark Queen" foreshadows powerful changes in Ireland toward independence and in the rise of feminism that would take place a few hundred years after Ineen's rebellion. The authors recreate this 16th Century adventure on the Emerald Isle with passion and action.

Meticulously researched with personal insight from oral histories of Irish Clans and the author's grandmother and others, Dark Queen of Donegal is a story of honor and betrayals, kidnappings, imprisonment, and assassinations in Ireland, Scotland, and England. The book offers a front-row seat to an accurate, and, sometimes anguished, tale of rulers and warriors. Readers will feel what it was like to be amongst these rulers and warriors, learn of their courage, love, hatreds, and conquests. Readers will gain an understanding of the Dark Queen and her famous, heroic son Red Hugh. This book is a highly readable contribution to a view of history and to revelations about a powerful, tenacious real woman leader.

Ineen is married to an Irish "king" when her Scots relatives are slaughtered not far from Donegal's southern border. Elizabeth I despises the Queen of Donegal and orders the Crown to kidnap that Queen's 14-year-old son. The plot succeeds. Ineen believes an ancient Irish prophecy that her son, the Irish hero Red Hugh, is destined to succeed his father, and save the kingdom. She will do anything to rescue her son and alter the course of Donegal Castle's history.

Praise for the book:

 Francis M. 0’Donnell, author of The O’Donnells of Tyrconnell - A Hidden Legacy
writes that  “The enigmatic character of Ineen Dubh has taken a backseat to the legends of her famous son.”
    Wilma Davidson, EDD, author, writes “ The book offers a front row seat to an accurate, and, sometimes anguished, tale of good rulers - and bad. You’ll feel the intensity and passion of the time.”

"Mary Pat Ferron Canes with JR Foley brings Ineedn Dubh to thrilling life, showing how a mother's love for her son shapes and transcends history. By delving into the inner life of this Scottish princess and irish Queen, Canes and Foley make a legendary woman real and do their own Irish ancestors proud.
Mary Pat Kelly, Author of the best-selling work of historical fiction; Galway Bay

Dark Queen of Donegal is available in the United States, Ireland and other countries.
It is on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other fine bookstores.

Kenny’s Books shop in Galway (the author's favorite Irish book store in Ireland) has the book as well!



About the Author
Mary Pat Ferron Canes wrote a Master's thesis in anthropology dealing with Gaelic women and men going back to ancient sagas. Ever since conducting her research, Canes fell in love with the Emerald Isle and has visited numerous times over the years. She holds a graduate degree in anthropology from George Washington University and an undergraduate degree from St. Catherine University. While teaching at the Rochester Institute of Technology as an adjunct professor, the author has been writing about Irish history. Her discoveries about the Queen of Donegal, an historical woman of Ireland whose son, Red Hugh is considered one of Ireland's heroes, intrigued Canes. This discovery, coupled with appreciation for her grandmother's fascination with her Irish heritage, led Canes to narrate the stories in this novel. Canes' research included attending a clan reunion in Donegal and interviews with descendants of the real-life characters in her book. She has stood in the footsteps of the characters at Donegal Castle and other significant locales in the historical novel. The published author has written a series of booklets, poems, articles, and had her work appear in numerous journals. Canes is a member of the National League of American Pen Women, Inc (NLAPW) and currently serves as the fourth vice president for the National organization. Raised in the Midwest, she now resides in Northern Virginia.

JR Foley is a descendant of the O'Donnell Clan. He has an MFA from the University of Iowa Writers Workshop and is a member of Mosaic: Approaches to Ronald Sukenick and contemporary literary Criticism in Arts and Politics. He received a PhD in English and lives in Maryland.