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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

Listen here

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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

Listen here

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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.

Irish Times, July 20th, 2021  Full article here

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.
Read the full article here

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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
Read the full article here

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.

Westmeath Independent, July 14th, 2021. Full article here

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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.

Irish Central, July 10th, 2021. Full article here

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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.

Limerick Leader, 1 August, 2021  Full article here

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

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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
Read the full article here

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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

Read and listen to the full piece here

THE LEGACY OF FR. JAMES COYLE

EWTN International

Discussing Fr. Jimmy's legacy of inclusion with Jim and Joy Pinto on EWTN

Watch here

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In the Media: Press
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