Author Danielle McLaughlin on the Cork locations that inspired her new novel, The Art of Falling

From seeing the light on Lough Hyne to staring across the Lee

Author Danielle McLaughlin in the old cemetery in Donoughmore, Co Cork. Pictures: Dan Linehan

It’s a calm night on the water as the kayaks set off from the small pier at Lough Hyne. Most of our party are novices, some - like me and my husband and kids – absolute beginners. As we move away from shore, I gradually relax into the rhythm of paddling and listen to the guide’s stories of the history of the lake and the surrounding West Cork countryside. 

He’s a born storyteller and we’re soon under his spell. Darkness falls, the moon rises, and my sense of anticipation grows. I’m here to see the bio-luminesence, the glow-in-the dark effect created by microalgae in the water called phytoplankton. It’s easily the most enjoyable part of my research for The Art of Falling.