Finding Mary

The untold story of an Inishowen murder, 1844

Angela Byrne

“Based on original research, this book reconstructs the world of a north Donegal village on the eve of the Great Famine to explore the approaches to justice taken by the local community and agents of the Crown (state) and examines the survival of the murder in local folklore to reflect on memory, remembrance and whose stories get to be told. This local history series is highly recommended for genealogists." Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette, November 2025

“Hands up if you sometimes skip the preface of a book. Well please don’t do that when you read Finding Mary. The untold story of an Inishowen murder, 1844. The preface to Finding Mary is a fine piece of literary writing that sets the scene for an enigmatic but true event [...] I wholeheartedly recommend Finding Mary to all students of history.” Berni Dwan, Women's History Association of Ireland, November 2025