A DUBLIN writer with strong West Cork connections is set to take the stage at this year’s West Cork Literary Festival.

John O’Donnell’s latest short story collection, Mr Hoo & Other Stories, was recently published by Doire Press.

He will discuss this work as part of the West Cork Literary Festival on July 10th.

John’s late uncle Bill is widely remembered across Cork for running The Anchor Tavern in Bantry, as well as writing and publishing a number of books himself.

John’s father Barry ‘immigrated’ to Dublin from Cork. His brother, Brian, owned the Hi-B Bar on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork city. The other brother Bill stayed in Bantry and ran the Anchor Tavern, which at the time operated as a hotel as well as a bar.

John and his family took their holidays down in Kinsale and visit Bantry while they were down in West Cork.

‘We would visit Bill and he would take us out fishing on his boat which was called The Colleen,’ said John. ‘We’d go out and he’d show us how to catch mackerel and it was a great day out on the boat. Then we’d all come in and have tea in the hotel.’

He also provided John and his father with practical fishing advice that ended up becoming lifesaving information.

‘I remember he told us that in rough weather when you’re out on the boat, you need to tie two ropes around yourself in case one gives way,’ said John.

‘Myself, my father and my brother sailed in the 1979 Fastnet Race…there was a very serious storm and a number of people were killed.

‘When the weather got really, really bad my father said we have to do what Bill said, instead of just using safety harnesses, we also had a rope tied around ourselves.’

One of the crew fell overboard and his harness unclipped. However, thanks to Bill’s forewarning, the crew member stayed attached to those on the boat and was rescued. ‘Bill certainly helped to save the life of somebody who would otherwise have been lost in that storm.’

John made a documentary about the Fastnet disaster later in life, which was broadcast on RTÉ’s Doc on One.

His latest book, Mr Hoo & Other Short Stories, features a number of pieces with dark subject material that invoke discussions of justice and morality.

The writer works as a barrister, and although none of the stories are based on real-life cases, he said the courtroom is a great source of inspiration.

‘There’s so much of human life in court, and most of the really good material is at district court level rather than in the higher courts.’

For John, participating in this year’s West Cork Literary Festival is a ‘great honour’.

‘I’m quite nostalgic about coming back to Bantry,’ he said. ‘I’ll be seeing some of my family who I wouldn’t see all that often…to visit Bantry town is wonderful. I’ve always enjoyed myself and I’m really looking forward to going back down there again.’