May Moran was born in Crossna, Knockvicar, Boyle Co Roscommon. Her childhood home was the original family farmhouse where her uncle, Patrick Moran was born, Patrick is the focus of May’s first book ‘Executed for Ireland – The Patrick Moran Story’.
May was educated at St Patrick’s NS, Knockvicar, Co Roscommon and Mount Sackville Convent, Chapelizod in Dublin she entered the Cluny novitiate in Ferbane, Co Offaly but decided that she didn’t have a vocation. After a time as an Information Officer at The Headquarters of Ireland’s National Transport Agency C.I.E (Coras Iompar Éireann) May went to England and got a job in a private school for a year. From there she achieved a place in Maria Assumpta teacher training college, Kensington Square, London and completed a three year course there. After teaching for a year in St Ursula’s Infant School, Romford, Essex, May returned to Ireland in September 1973 and taught in Palmerstown Boys National School, Dublin and at Kilnamanagh Boys National School, Tallaght (1979-1980). in 1980 May returned to her native Crossna to live next-door to her birth place and that of her Uncle, Patrick Moran and taught at the Convent Primary School in Boyle, Co Roscommon as a Learning Support teacher.
May was also secretary to Arigna Leader Company for five years and is currently secretary of Crossna Community Co-operative Society. Her only previous experience of publishing was in 2006 when the Crossna Community celebrated the centenary of the local Church. Crossna Church Centenary, a commemorative booklet was published to which she contributed a number of articles and old photographs and was the main person responsible for compiling the 192-page book which was featured in the Irish Independent, In Tuition, the CPSE Supplement for Junior Certificate in 2006.
May’s first book Executed for Ireland tells the story of her uncle Patrick Moran one of a small number of men to be executed during Ireland’s War of Independence. In Executed for Ireland, May explores the fascinating and tragic life of her uncle, a man who deserves to be remembered for his part in Ireland’s struggle for freedom. Executed for Ireland is published by Mercier Press, 2010.
We met with May in Crossna, County Roscommon where she discussed her first book and the research she undertook to find out about her uncle’s life.
May will be reading from “Executed for Ireland” in The Reading Room, Carrick-on-Shannon on
Thursday 30th September at 8.00pm!
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#1 by Dónal Donnelly on March 11, 2011 - 8:39 pm
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Listening to May’s voice telling the amazing and tragic story of her Uncle Paddy makes the history of the War of Independence come alive. On occasions over the years we often called to Knockvicar to the house where the Morans lived. We knew part of Paddy’s story from the history of Kilmainham. The story is amazing as he touched so many aspects of Irish life , Trade Unions, Gaelic League , IRB and IRA and the ordinary communities in Blackrock and Dunlaogahire in Dublin. May’s book is balanced , detailed and is a treasure throve of facts about the penal conditions under which the Irish people lived at that time . It is a “must read” as May carried out deep research and has managed to present it so accurately and skillfully.
Maith thú May.
Dónal Donnelly Dublin
#2 by Matt Barnsberg on August 31, 2011 - 6:23 pm
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You inspired me May. You are really a good writer. Keep on telling stories. Your books are really nice as they were coined from realistic experiences like the one that you have written about your Uncle Paddy.
#3 by Joseph Grennan on October 6, 2011 - 8:43 pm
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Hi May, as others have mentioned here, your writing is amazing considering you had no inspiration for writing as a child. Great information about 1916 and 1921.
#4 by Michelle Moloney King on November 28, 2011 - 12:09 pm
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This is a great resource to use in my classroom. Thanks for sharing Mary.
Best
Michelle Moloney King
#5 by Gerald Sheeran on July 21, 2014 - 8:23 pm
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I am related to Paddy through his mother’s side of the family. Your book “Executd for Ireland” was eye opening for me. I recently returned from Ireland but did not know about Paddy or the book until I returned. We visited the Kilmainham jail not knowing what we missed. Thank you so much for your writing.
Again, thank you
Gerald Sheeran
#6 by Patrick Moran on July 3, 2016 - 12:17 am
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Trying to trace my fathers family, four brothers and sister John,Patrick,James.Edward and Bea,arrived in Liverpool in 1922 saying nothing and with no known history, They said they came from Boyle pr Ballyfarnon. I recently spent a week. In the Forest Park House hotel and started some initial research but could find no trace of them in either place. I read your book Boyle and have ordered a copy, my uncles never mentioned any relations in Boyle and I did not know the history of Paddy Moran until I researched Irish history and found four book Execured for Ireland, I will be very grateful if you can indicate any sources of information I Can consult. Best regards Pat Moran,