SOMETHING BIGGER IN THE MEDIA
ON THE HISTORY SHOW WITH MYLES DUNGAN
The History Show, RTE
Talking to Myles Dungan on RTE Radio One's The History Show about some of the real story that inspired the fiction in Something Bigger
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WITH BAZ ASHMAWY ON THE RYAN TUBRIDY SHOW
Ryan Tubridy Show, RTE Radio One
Sheila chats with Baz Ashmawy on the Ryan Tubridy show about Marcella, Jimmy and Something Bigger.
Augut 5th, 2021
Listen to the clip here
THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF MY GRANDUNCLE'S MURDER BY THE KKK
Seán Moncrieff Show, Newstalk
An interview with Séan Moncrieff, August 3rd, 2021
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TELLING THE STORY OF MY GRANDUNCLE, A PRIEST MURDERED BY THE KKK IN ALABAMA IN 1921
Irish Times
Something Bigger, as a novel, was saved by a porch in Alabama. It tells the story of Marcella Coyle, who leaves home in Roscommon in 1904 to join her older brother Jimmy, an outspoken priest, in Birmingham, Alabama.
DEBUT NOVEL RECALLS AN INCREDIBLE ROSCOMMON FAMILY STORY
Roscommon Herald
A South Roscommon author, Sheila Killian’s debut novel, ‘Something Bigger’, tells the story of an almost-forgotten incident in Irish-American history in which a brother and sister from South Roscommon found themselves in conflict with the KKK in Alabama, 100 years ago.
Roscommon Herald, August 11th 2021.
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ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL MARKS 100 YEARS SINCE KILLING OF CATHOLIC PRIEST; EWTN BROADCASTS LIVE
Alabama Life and Culture
It also inspired a novel that has just been released. Coyle’s grand niece, Sheila Killian, wrote “Something Bigger,” inspired by the story of Coyle’s life, death and the trial of his killer, from the perspective of his sister, Marcella.
“She often gets overlooked,” Pinto said. “She gives these beautiful insights into Father Coyle and his life. There’s something bigger in this man’s story.”
Alabama Life & Culture, August 11th, 2021
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NEW NOVEL SHINES LIGHT ON INCREDIBLE FAMILY STORY
Westmeath Independent
Sheila Killian fondly remembers Fr Jimmy's picture hanging up in her homeplace growing up and the awareness and pride in her granduncle's achievements.
It is fitting then that Fr Coyle's tragic death far from his native Drum in Birmingham, Alabama, 100 years ago next month at the hands of a Methodist Minister and a KKK member, forms the backdrop to her first novel 'Something Bigger' which has been receiving very positive advance reviews, including a glowing review from acclaimed author Donal Ryan.
SOMETHING BIGGER REVIEW: REAL-LIFE IRISH-EMIGRANT TALE INSPIRED THIS AMERICAN DEEP SOUTH DRAMA
Sunday Independent
A review by Justine Carbery
Based on a fascinating family story, Something Bigger by Sheila Killian highlights significant moments of Irish history as well as exposing shameful episodes of racist hatred in the American Deep South in the early years of the 20th century.
Sunday Independent, August 8th, 2021
Read the full review here
NEW BOOK EXPLORES MURDER OF IRISH PRIEST BY KKK IN 1920S ALABAMA
Irish Central
"Something Bigger" by Roscommon native Sheila Killian tells the story of Father Jimmy Coyle, an Irish priest who was murdered by a member of the KKK in Alabama 100 years ago this coming August.
Limerick Leader
ALMOST exactly 100 years ago, Fr Jimmy Coyle was murdered in Birmingham, Alabama by a member of the Ku Klux Klan. The Mungret-educated priest was shot dead while reading his breviary on the porch of the parish house where his young sister Marcella also lived.
Now that long-ago family tragedy has become the basis for a novel, Bigger Things, written by Fr Jimmy’s grand-niece, Sheila Killian.
SHEILA TAPS INTO ACHILL'S GREAT WRITING TRADITION
Western People
Roscommon-born writer, Sheila Killian, has published her first novel, predominantly written on Achill Island
Western People, July 20th, 2021
SUMMER READS
CHOSEN BY DONAL RYAN
Sunday Independent
Also from UL’s green and giving campus, Sheila Killian’s staggeringly accomplished, meticulously researched and unbelievably gripping debut, Something Bigger (Caritas Press), follows 14-year-old Marcella Coyle from Ireland to Alabama where she joins her brother, a fortitudinous Catholic priest pitted against the terrible power of the Ku Klux Klan. It’s a story of integrity, love, loyalty and friendship, and a stark illumination of Irish emigrant politics and racial and sectarian strife through the first half of the 20th century.
Sunday Independent, August 1st, 2021
SOMETHING BIGGER - BRINGING AN IRISH-AMERICAN FAMILY SAGA TO VIVID LIFE
Sunday Business Post
Sheila Killian has deftly fictionalised and recreated the events that led to her grand-aunt leaving Alabama and moving north to New York
Sunday Business Post, August 15th, 2021
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REMEMBERING A MURDERED BIRMINGHAM PRIEST FOR HIS FAITH AND COURAGE
WBHM Alabama
Killian is also an author and tells the story of Coyle’s death in her fictional book titled “Something Bigger.” She said his story still speaks 100 years later.
“For him, as a priest, everybody is equal in the sight of God – he meant everybody. And that’s still a message that needs to be absorbed, I think because we have a bad habit of ‘othering’ people,” she said.
Killian said Father James Coyle’s life should be a reminder of the love and respect everyone is due.
WBHM Alabama August 13th, 2021
THE LEGACY OF FR. JAMES COYLE
EWTN International
