I never set out to be a writer, but researching my great-grandparents led to this book

When Liam O’Connor discovered an old photo of his great-grandparents, he began to research their history. A decade on, he tells their story in a new book that lays bare a tumultuous 19th century Ireland. By Deirdre McArdle

Liam O’Connor at Aghada Pier, where family history, local research and stories passed down through generations helped inspire his debut novel The Sailor and Seamstress. Picture: Chani Anderson

In his grandmother’s house in Dingle, a photograph on the wall snagged the attention of a young Liam O’Connor. He didn’t recognise the couple.

“The photo had been there for years, but I only really looked at it that day. I asked my aunt who they were, and she told me they were her grandparents — William and Norry. She was busy, so she told me to ask my grandmother about them.”