FERMANAGH plays an important role in the recently published memoir. ‘Did ye hear Mammy Died?’ by author Séamus O’Reilly.

The book – which has been reigning at the top of the Irish Times Bestsellers list for several weeks – follows the story of Séamus, his ten siblings and their father as they go through the motions of life without their mother, Sheila O’Reilly, who tragically died of breast cancer at the age of 43 when Séamus was five.

Now based in London, Séamus is a columnist for The Observer and writes about media and politics for the Irish Times, New Statesman, Guts and VICE.

Some readers of this newspaper may recall Sheila O’Reilly (née McGullion) as a popular teacher of Irish and French at St. Michael’s College in Enniskillen. Her father was a cattle master for George Tottenham at Blaney Estate.

Indeed, Fermanagh looms as such a large character that one of the chapters is entitled 'Fermanagh' as Séamus visits his mother’s birthplace in Fermanagh, the site which is now the Blaney Spa and Yoga Centre and self-catering cottages.

There are also throwaway references to places, well-known Fermanagh people and events within the county which will intrigue any reader.

The memoir is a loving and candid look at grief and how it affects families, particularly young children.

It is also very humorous, as it recounts the tales of the 11 O’Reilly children and their father, Joe, a native of Belleek as he lovingly raised them on the Londonderry-Donegal Border during the nineties.

The book can be viewed simply as an appreciation for Joe and all the work he did in raising his children.

Séamus’s love and admiration of his father is one of the standout qualities of the writing, along with its unexpected hilarity at all the situations the family found themselves in, such as how as a cheery child, Séamus approached mourners at his mother’s wake, asking them, “Did ye hear Mammy died?”, hence the title of his touching memoir.

The book is not simply a credit to Séamus’s skill as a writer – in weaving together the trauma of his childhood with humour, he also captures the dark humour which has always played a role in Northern Ireland.

There are a great array of characters and strange situations which the family found themselves in – for example, readers are invited to look out for words on a caravan holiday, a chapter on dogs and priests, and other moments of hilarity.

‘Did ye hear Mammy Died?’ by Séamus O’Reilly is available to purchase now.