The Irish Clans, Book Four, McCarthy Gold Front Cover, Painting John Quider, The Money Diggers

Today I want to share with you the recent review of my fourth The Irish Clans novel titled McCarthy Gold.

A) Midwest Book Review by Diane Donovan, Donovan Literary Services

 McCarthy Gold, The Irish Clans, Book Four by Stephen Finlay Archer, Manzanita Writers Press

9780998691046                     

 Book 4 of the Irish Clans series takes place after the Easter Uprising chronicled in the third story and follows The Clans’ search for the McCarthy gold treasure and the ongoing efforts of Collins to find his sister.

 Containing more of a treasure hunt atmosphere than the previous books, McCarthy Gold will engage readers with a different tone and flavor that retains the historical backdrop while moving into puzzles and problem-solving scenarios to intrigue those interested in hidden treasures and suspense.

 Each character continues to develop as new dilemmas affect their choices. Will Collin permanently abandon his wife and their newborn child in Canada to pursue the truth about his sister’s whereabouts? Can Tadgh and Morgan keep their activities secret from the Protestant Times and other forces like rogue police officer Boyle that would interfere with their mission?

 From the historical religious significance of the O’Donnell Clan to Boyle’s hunt for treasures (now likely in possession of the McCarthy Clans Pact), Stephen Finlay Archer provides a story that entwines politics, passion, and intrigue with an edict to fulfill forefathers’ noble plans: “We are the generation chosen by God and destiny to recover the treasures of our Clans so that they can be used to fuel our glorious revolution.”

 Once again, history and mystery entwine with cultural revelations that probe the foundations of social and historical change in Ireland.

 Because the Clans and their stories and books are interwoven and build upon a foundation established in Book 1, it is highly recommended that readers adopt a sequential pursuit of this series. The rich development of characters, perspectives, and missions of transformation and discovery could not be gained from reading just one of these books, while the progressive action and adventures that build upon one another to further the story are nicely constructed.

 McCarthy Gold introduces new considerations about the effects of heritage, wealth, and the attitudes of traitors and believers on events that unfold here.

 Its development further intrigue and suspense keeps the action vivid as the historical backdrop expands, making for a fine series addition that continues to grow its characters and purposes against a historically accurate, rich backdrop of action.

 All these books should be standard acquisitions for any library interested in Irish history and culture.

B) Author Insight for McCarthy Gold

There is a true story about McCarthy Gold. In the 1640s, after the British conquered the Irish Clans at the Battle of Kinsale in 1602, the Irish rebelled in a decade-long war named The Irish Confederate Wars of 1641 – 1653. This was the most destructive conflict in Irish history resulting in over 200,000 deaths from fighting and war-related famine and disease.

Early in this war of attrition, the Gaelic Catholic Irish Confederates took the upper hand, allying with English King Charles I in the Royalist cause. The tide turned after the King was defeated by the English Parliamentarians in 1646 in the concurrent English Civil war over the Divine Right of Kings versus the power of the Protestant parliament. Thereafter the leader of the Parliamentarians, Oliver Cromwell invaded Ireland in 1649 with a merciless slash and burn campaign to quash the ongoing rebellion.

During this turmoil in Ireland, Richard Boyle, the Earl of Cork, who resided at Lismore Castle east of Cork took a lead along with his sons in trying to defeat the Confederates in south-east Ireland. Their main adversaries were the McCarthy Clan, both the MacCarthaigh Reagh Clan at Kilbrittain Castle south-west of Cork and the MacCarthy Mor Clan, 2^nd Viscount Muskerry, Donagh MacCarthy at Blarney Castle north-west of Cork. Lord Muskerry became a leader of the Confederate army and took the Royalist side in the English Civil War.

He was away from Blarney Castle in 1646 when Boyle’s son, and a Cromwell general, Lord Broghill lay siege to the castle. Broghill installed a canon on Gun Hill opposite a small lake.

After he succeeded in breaking down the tower wall, he found the castle empty except for two old retainers. The main garrison had fled through caves situated under the battlements known as Badgers Caves. Those caves provided exits in three directions of the compass, one to Cork, one to the lake, and one towards Kerry.

In addition to the defeat of his old adversary, the Boyle family was seeking the reputed Gold Plate of the MacCarthys. It had vanished with the garrison.

After the Confederate Wars ended, a subsequent McCarthy, Donogh had to relinquish the devastated property. It was eventually bought by Sir James St. John Jefferyes, Governor of Cork in 1688 who had been born at the castle in 1634. He spent a fortune attempting to drain the lake to find the Gold Plate that was purported to have been discarded there when the garrison fled. No one has ever found the missing Gold Plate.

Until now! Read The Irish Clans novels, follow the clues with my characters and you may finally find the McCarthy Gold !

Stephen’s novel series “The Irish Clans” can be purchased at https://amzn.to/3gQNbWi