Free public talk in Athlone Library by RTÉ director and producer

Frank Shouldice Jnr is a writer, journalist and dramatist who has written a book called ‘Grandpa the Sniper’.

It tells the story of his grandfather, also Frank Shouldice, who though born in Ballaghaderreen, lined up with his brother Jack for the Dublin football team in the final of the GAA’s ‘Croke Cup’ in 1916.

The author will give the talk in the Library in Athlone, on Tuesday March 15 at 6pm.

Admission is free but booking is advisable.

Frank Shouldice Jnr.is a producer and director with RTE’s Investigations Unit and has produced a number of in-depth documentaries, both for television and radio. He has also written extensively about social issues and sport for the national press.

The story of his grandfather is a fascinating one. Shortly after the Shouldice brothers lined out for Dublin in Croke Park they found themselves embroiled in the Easter Rising in the city.

Frank Shouldice was a sniper based in the Malthouse attached to the Jameson distillery at North King Street.

The veteran marksman kept many personal letters received during his various periods of incarceration in Ireland, England and Wales. The author in researching for his book ‘Grandpa the Sniper’ examined these personal records but also trawled through the national archives and military records – in the course of his research he un-earthed an MI5 surveillance file on the “most disloyal” Shouldice family!

In the course of his talk Frank Shouldice Jnr will speak about what it meant to write about his grandfather – his book has been very positively received by the critics and Prof Diarmaid Ferriter has described it as ‘absorbing’ and ‘rich evocative and vivid’.

For anyone interested in the 1916 Rising this talk should be a fascinating opportunity to hear the story of a man who was central to events in North King Street.

The book ‘Grandpa the Sniper’ is available to purchase locally. The talk will be presented in conjunction with Athlone Community Radio.