Local Brontë Group to host book launch and wreath laying this weekend

THE Banagher Brontë Group will round off a great inaugural year with two events this coming weekend.

On Saturday December 7^th the group will launch Martina Devlin’s 'Charlotte' at 2.30pm in the Crank House, Banagher. The book will be launched by Nigel West whose ancestors lived in Hill House (now Charlotte’s Way, a well-appointed guesthouse) until 1959 when it was sold to the local Church of Ireland community.

Martina Devlin’s book tells the story of Arthur Bell Nicholls’ two marriages, firstly to the great writer Charlotte Brontë in 1854 and ten years later to his first cousin Mary Anna Bell. The story which is told through the eyes of Mary Anna, is of three lives irrevocably intertwined, covering the period 1854 to 1932.

At the start of the book Martina Devlin declares: “This story does not claim to be the truth but is inspired by real events.” This is important because not long into the novel we meet the Reverend Richard Bell, Mary Anna’s brother and a maidservant at Hill House called Hope Porter, both fictional characters who add much to the historic events as they unfold.

As part of the proceedings Martina Devlin will be interviewed by Dr Maebh O’Regan on the inspiration and creation of the novel. Maebh is a prominent member of the Banagher Brontë Group and has done great work with the Banagher Craft Group who have created a colourful collection of tapestries relating to the Brontë family which will also be on display in Crank House.

On Sunday morning after midday service at Saint Paul’s Church, at 12.45pm approximately, the annual wreath laying ceremony at the grave of Arthur and Mary Anna will be held in the adjoining churchyard.