Remarkable story of Drum's Fr Jimmy Coyle republished

By Rebekah O'Reilly

A remarkable story linking the Midlands to one of the darkest chapters in American history is reaching new audiences following the republication of a powerful historical novel inspired by real events.

Something Bigger, written by Athlone-born author Sheila Killian, draws on the life of her grand-uncle, a Drum native priest who took a courageous stand against the Ku Klux Klan in 1920s America.

Fr Jimmy Coyle ministered in Birmingham, Alabama, during a turbulent period following the First World War, when rapid industrial growth deepened divisions of race and class. He became known for building inclusive congregations and speaking out against prejudice, a stance that carried serious personal risk.

Set in Birmingham in 1921, the novel is narrated through the voice of his younger sister, Marcella, offering a vivid portrayal of Irish emigrant life in the American South amid social upheaval and rising racial tension.

“The story is a very personal one to me because Jimmy Flynn was my grand-uncle. He was an amazing man,” she said.

Flynn, as he's referred to in the book, travelled from Drum to the United States in the early 20th century to serve on the missions in Alabama. His sister Marcella later joined him and became central to how the story is told.

“The novel is told through the voice of Marcella,” she said.

“She came back to Athlone and, when I was a baby, I knew her briefly. She taught me how to read and was always talking about Jimmy’s story.”

His commitment to equality brought him into direct conflict with the Ku Klux Klan during a period of intense racial hostility.

“He was a real civil rights champion, which was difficult in the early years of the 20th century in the South,” she said.

“The Klan were very active, and he was constantly clashing with them. Eventually, they killed him, which was quite shocking.”

Originally published in the United States during the Covid-19 pandemic, the novel struggled to gain visibility in Ireland. Despite this, the book received strong critical acclaim.

"It had a really good critical reaction. That was really lovely," Sheila said.

Among those offering praise was award-winning novelist Donal Ryan, who described it as “a stunning, intensely engaging novel by a consummate storyteller”, while Liz Nugent called it “compelling, intriguing and skillful”.

Now republished by 451 Publishers, the novel is available in a new Irish-printed edition.

“451 Publishers, who are an Irish publisher, picked it up and are bringing out an Irish edition,” she said.

“I’m delighted because it’s being printed in Ireland as well, and I’m just glad to see the story getting another airing because it was difficult during COVID.”

She believes the novel’s themes remain timely, especially in the current divisive times we all live in.

“Stories are important for people to understand,” she said.

“It’s one thing to read history, which can seem very dry and dead, but historical fiction brings it to life.

"A story like this, of a man standing up with moral courage to the kind of populism and racism we’re seeing too much of now, reminds us of our common humanity.”

Something Bigger is now available online and through independent bookshops across Ireland, including The Athlone Bookshop.