Séamas O’Reilly: Finding humour in a childhood marked by the death of his mother
Séamas O’Reilly, author Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?
It is a subject most of us do our best to avoid but for Séamas O’Reilly, writing about death has had its upsides. His memoir, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?, is an account of growing up in a large family in rural Derry following the death of his mother Sheila’s death from cancer at the age of 43.
O’Reilly was only five years old at the time and the book takes its title from his cheerful greeting to mourners at his mother’s wake. It is a heartwarming and hilarious tribute to his mother and also his father Joe who was left with the unimaginable task of bringing up 11 children aged 2 to 17.
