Massively talented Birr artist launching new book
THE massively talented Birr artist Seán Hogan will be launching a new book in his hometown at the end of November.
Seán grew up very near Birr, in Killeen Tippeary. As a young boy he attended art lessons in Tin Jug Studio in the town and as he advanced through his teenage years his interest in art never waned. His talent grew and grew and it was evident to everyone that he had a special gift. Upon reaching adulthood he began earning a living as a cartoonist and storyboard artist. He has worked on animated shows for Disney, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, and Apple TV+. He now lives in Helsinki, Finland.
The book which Seán will be launching is his latest graphic novel, Brotherhood Part 1. “It's set in Tipperary during the Irish War of Independence,” the artist told The Midland Tribune, “as four teenagers are caught in its tragic events.”
The short pitch for the book goes as follows, "In the rural, rolling hills of revolutionary Ireland, 4 teenagers engage in their own battle for freedom. Brotherhood is a darkly comedic tale of youthful rebellion set against the brutal backdrop of the Irish War of Independence."
A self-published venture, Seán has run a hugely successful fundraising campaign, raising just over €5,000 for the publishing costs. Brotherhood will be officially launched on November 29 at 7pm in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, and Seán is keen to stress that everyone is welcome to attend.
The book can also be ordered on the website Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com:
/projects/seanohogain/
brotherhood-part-1-
graphic-novel
Brotherhood is 76 pages and is set in the midlands. The book starts when Macdara, a young Irish teen, is accidentally involved in the death of a British Black and Tan constable. To cover his tracks, he and his friends, Colm, Ciara, and Seamus, form the Brotherhood. The book is a coming of age story, with the natural teenage instinct to rebel being heightened by the war around the characters.
With a rich cast of characters, rural Irish setting, and sharp commentary on the myths of heroism and the cost of freedom, Brotherhood offers a fresh and original perspective on a pivotal moment in Irish history. “You’ve never seen Irish history explored like this,” said one enthusiastic reader of the novel.
Brotherhood is Seán's 3rd graphic novel. “I began writing it all the way back in 2018,” the author said. “The book is so big that I had to split it into 2 parts to make it more manageable. I began drawing it in 2022 when I lived in Copenhagen, and finally it's ready for publishing! Comics are a tonne of work, from writing and then drawing, so I'm super excited that Part 1 is finally finished. I began writing the book as a way to understand Irish history better, and I felt there wasn't enough fiction set during this important time. Brotherhood is the most ambitious thing I've ever made and I can't wait for people to read it!”
Seán also spoke about his love for his hometown: “Growing up in the Birr area has definitely shaped my artistic interests a lot. Brotherhood is historical fiction and I think Birr is unique with how much historical intrigue it has. When I was a teenager I was the youngest member of Birr Historical Society which was very interesting at the time. Working for many years as a tour guide in Birr Castle definitely heightened my love of Irish history and made me want to explore it in fiction. There's always so much art happening in Birr too, from Vintage Week to OFFline, that you can't help but be inspired to create art - most of my friends from school are artists in some way and I don't think that's a coincidence!
“Brotherhood is also a love letter in a way to cycling the laneways and rural roads around Birr and Lorrha, which I treasure even more now that I live in Helsinki. I love cycling these roads and listening, viewing the sights and sounds nature; something which is also one of the main joys of the protagonist Macdara.”