In the third episode of our series of free Irish podcasts The Writer’s Passage, Jack Harte takes us to Lanesboro in Co Longford, and to neighbouring Ballyleague in County Roscommon to highlight his book In The Wake of the Bagger.
In The Wake of the Bagger is Jack’s first novel, semi autobiographical, it is set both in the Nineteen Fifties, and the present day. The novel traces the story of the Dowd family who are uprooted from their home in Killeenduff, Co Sligo, to re-settle as economic migrants in the Midlands, where the industrial development of the Bord Na Mona bogs is providing jobs and opportunities.
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The Writer's Passage Episode 3: Jack Harte In the Wake of the Bagger [ 27:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
The Writer's Passage Episode 3: Jack Harte In the Wake of the Bagger [ 27:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadTo visit Jack Harte’s Page on podcasts.ie click here.
The Writer’s Passage Photographs:
We started our journey at Lanesboro Bridge.
We travelled to the birthplace of Fr. Joseph Mullooly and finished up the journey on a part of the boglands.
The Writer’s Passage is produced by Jho Harris and Sinéad McClure with funding assistance from The Literature Project Award from The Arts Council of Ireland. 
#1 by Bob Maloney on August 23, 2011 - 12:45 am
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Really interesting to me, a second generation American.
My grandfather emigrated to the USA from Killeenduff over a hundred years ago. I visited Killeenduff several years ago and met cousins of mine. At the time, I knew nothing of Jack Harte, Fred Conlon or Martin McDonagh all of whom have ties to Easky. I have since seen most of McDonagh’s plays and am now reading Harte’s work.
I wonder whether my family are part of the Maloney family mentioned in Harte’s novel. In any case, I heard many stories about the Split Rock from my grandfather and my cousin lives right next to the Split Rock!
What would have happened if my grandfather had not emigrated?
Bob Maloney