Life
Author of Half Moon Lake (2003), containing characters inspired
by childhood in Ballinderry; ed. Queens; MA on Civil Rights Movement appeared
in part in Irish News; features writer and interviewer on Sunday Press;
joined RTÉ Press Office in 1995; ed. Futura, fashion magazine,
after June Considine; wrote at Anam Cara, W. Cork writers’ and artists’
retreat ; the novel arises from memory of childhood incident concerning
three men caught in dinghy explosion, two of whom survive with memories
of what it is like to drown; also involves a somewhat autobiographical
relationship between teenage girl and menopausal mother.
Works
Half Moon Lake (Dublin: TownHouse; London: Simon & Schuster/Pocket
Books 2003), 412pp.
Criticism
Interview with Una Brankin, Books Ireland (March 2003), in Books
Ireland (March 2003), p.47 [as in Life, supra].
Commentary
Sue Leonard, reviews Una Brankin, Half Moon Lake (Pocket Books/TownHouse),
in Books Ireland (May 2003): tells of Grace Kane and the three
‘vultures’ Bobby, Ignatius and Georgina, who encircle her bed
awaiting her death in an attempt to win back the family farm; reveals
secret love of Grace which has caused her to live a celibate life. Leonard
finds some poignant moments but thinks the whole excessively gloomy. (p.117.)