A Family's Journey
From the Easter Rising
Through Independence
WHOM GOD LOVES
By Vivian Hollis Mayne
Trafford Publishing
ISBN 142510589-0
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
Irish author Vivian Hollis Mayne recently published a new book entitled Whom God Loves and some might find the title a bit misleading since the book is not religious in nature.
In fact, it is an intriguing account about the history of the 1916 Rising in Dublin based on a true story. It is the story of Ireland's fight for independence as seen through the eyes of a nationalist fighter and a family living in Dublin.
Vivian Hollis Mayne is also a screenwriter who has won awards for her plays, including the Banff Screen Writers Workshop Award. This career was put on-hold seven years ago, following the sale of her family home in Dublin.
As the family was cleaning out the home, they discovered an audio tape which had been left by their late father. Vivian and her brother were astounded to learn about his role in the Easter Rising of 1916 and his personal experiences at the GPO (General Post Office).
Vivian decided to write a book about her father and the people he knew and it took her seven years to complete.
"My father made that tape in 1966, when the 50th anniversary of 'the rising' was being celebrated," said Vivian. "His name was Willy McNeive but his real name is not used in the book, nor are any of the other people's real names that he knew in the GPO.
"As a veteran, he was asked to give a talk at the celebration for other veterans, but since he had just had surgery and wasn't feeling great about giving a talk in front of a lot of people, he made a tape of his personal experiences.
"My father was born on a small farm in County Mayo, and the youngest of five children. Three of the children emigrated to the United States, and since his older brother would inherit the farm, he decided there was no future for him there, so he emigrated to Liverpool.
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VIVIAN HOLLIS MAYNE
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"My father was always interested in Irish history and being a patriot, he adored Padraig Pearse and Michael Collins. While in Liverpool, he joined the Gaelic League.
"It was when he returned to Dublin for the funeral of another patriot that he met and spoke to Padraig Pearse. At that time, he became involved in secret talks about organizing 'the Rising'.
"When he returned to Liverpool, he more or less took over the leadership of a volunteer group. This group later returned to Dublin to join the other volunteers."
There are actually two parts to this story and they are all connected with Vivian's father and the GPO. The other part is about the family of Vivian's mother who had a big dairy in Parnell Street, which was just around the corner from the GPO.
Vivian's grandmother is a wonderful character in the book. She struggled not only to survive the great Dublin fire but having been left a widow, to raise six girls and one boy, and run a business.
Through all her trials, she manages to bring a lot of humour into the book and it all works simultaneously with the history since the only son of that family, Joseph Stanley, was the press officer for Padraig Pearse.
"My father and Michael Collins have association right through the book," says Vivian. "It goes on to 1923 and after the surrender at the GPO. My father was taken by cattle boat over to Frongoch, Wales, to a prisoner of war camp where he meets Joseph Stanley.
"That's where the connection came in. My father met his future wife when she came over to Wales to visit her brother. So, I'm the daughter of a convict! My father died in 1981 at the age of 81."
When I asked Vivian about the title of her book Whom God Loves, she said it had been one of her mother's favourite sayings. "She had a lot of sadness in her life. It was a tough life with six of us, and we lost two sisters to tuberculosis, but she was always optimistic and had wonderful sayings.
"When we were children sitting at the kitchen table, we heard mostly about 'The Troubles' and her youth. When something bad would happen, she used to say, 'Whom God loves He persecutes,' and then she would say, 'I wish to God He didn't love me so much.' She was one of the greatest story tellers that I have ever known."
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