IN APRIL 1916 Ballaghaderreen-born Frank Shouldice lined out for the Dublin football team in the final of the GAA's Croke Cup. Two weeks later he was fighting for Ireland's freedom.
The young man was at the Jameson malthouse at North King Street, with a rifle in one hand and a borrowed pair of binoculars in the other, in one of the most fearsomely fought engagements of the rebellion. His story is now told in the new book, Grandpa The Sniper, written by his grandson Frank Shouldice jnr. It has been described by leading Irish historian Prof Diarmaid Ferriter, as "rich, evocative, and vivid".
Frank jnr will be in Charlie Byrne’s on Middle Street this evening [Thursday March 10] at 6.30pm to talk about the book and sign copies. All are welcome.