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old kids book: Shamrogues?

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  • 12-08-2006 8:15pm
    #1
    flogen
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 10,243 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    Was talking to my sister about this the other day; It was a series of kids books based in Ireland about a group of little stones (or something) that came to life; had loads of Irish folklore references etc. etc.
    I'm not even sure if the title above is correct, but I'm almost certain it was some kind of pun on shamrock.

    The only detail I remember about it was one of the characters names; Glic which is the Irish for clever or crafty; he was the youngest one and was green.


    I'm sure to people unfamiliar with the series this post seems like a recount of a particularly odd trip I was on, but I swear it's real. Does anyone remember them or know who wrote them??


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    #2
    damienom
    Registered Users Posts: 582 ✭✭✭damienom


    Found the whole set of them in the attic a few months back. Too authors, think one was Patrick Meehan.


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    #3
    BossArky
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 9,493 Mod ✭✭✭✭BossArky


    Haha, yes I remember, had a few of those books... 2 at least:p

    Best link I could find is here, still not much info

    http://www.bestwebbuys.com/The_Shamrogues-ISBN_1872455093.html?isrc=b-search

    Other author was Niall Spratt.

    Weren't they all different colours (the Shamrouges)? Think I remember that one book was set around Meath/Newgrange? Could be getting mixed up with something else.


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    #4
    Dagnir Glaurung
    Closed Accounts Posts: 304 ✭✭Dagnir Glaurung


    I have 3 of them I think. I think there were only three because they got defeated by New-Killer(Nuclear) at the end. It was very sad.


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    #5
    flogen
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 10,243 Mod ✭✭✭✭flogen


    Ah brilliant; yeah they were different colours; I'm almost certain I had two of them, not sure if I had three though...

    I must try and find out where they went, they could be buried somewhere in the attic or even in my sisters... I hope they weren't given away


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    #6
    tSubh Dearg
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 5,555 ✭✭✭tSubh Dearg


    I read these at school. We only did two of them I didn't know there was a third.

    I think they were set in and around Newgrange as I have vague memories of the Shamrogues coming to life when the Solstice sun hit Newgrange.


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    #7
    Blush_01
    Registered Users Posts: 5,016 ✭✭✭Blush_01


    They were great!


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    #8
    gorum shamrogue
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭gorum shamrogue


    Pat Meehan here. there'a a fourth book. 'Scrap newgrange.' I'm writing the fifth at the moment. 'The Shamrogues Greatest Challenge.' subtitled 'The Abyss.'


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    #9
    gorum shamrogue
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭gorum shamrogue


    gorum shamrogue wrote:
    Pat Meehan here. there'a a fourth book. 'Scrap newgrange.' I'm writing the fifth at the moment. 'The Shamrogues Greatest Challenge.' subtitled 'The Abyss.'
    looking for a good publisher, or an agent. Wish me luck. Pat.


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    #10
    kiy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭kiy


    my dad wrote them books the shamrogues.
    flogen wrote: »
    Was talking to my sister about this the other day; It was a series of kids books based in Ireland about a group of little stones (or something) that came to life; had loads of Irish folklore references etc. etc.
    I'm not even sure if the title above is correct, but I'm almost certain it was some kind of pun on shamrock.

    The only detail I remember about it was one of the characters names; Glic which is the Irish for clever or crafty; he was the youngest one and was green.


    I'm sure to people unfamiliar with the series this post seems like a recount of a particularly odd trip I was on, but I swear it's real. Does anyone remember them or know who wrote them??


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    #11
    johnnylakes
    Registered Users Posts: 164 ✭✭johnnylakes


    There's a blast from the past! I named my dog at the time Sham after those books....ah....nostalgia


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    #12
    cautioner
    Closed Accounts Posts: 862 ✭✭✭cautioner


    Ah this brings me back! Let's see, there was Glic, and Cróga? She could control the weather... And the main guy said "Shtum" a lot... I can only remember random images and words... a tree was planted... quartz?... a big mansion house... diggers in a forest... a man with a hat with corks hanging out of it?

    Good times.


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    #13
    kiy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭kiy


    ggod my dad wrote that book bless him im sure he would of liken to see this he sadly passed away in janaury his name was niall spratt a great man with a great sence of humer its nice to see how people rember the book and ya it was about little stones in newgrange he wrote it with an old friend pat meehan.well there u go its a nice story glad to no its talked about.r.i.p my dad niall spratt 14-5-49 to28-1-08.thanks
    cautioner wrote: »
    Ah this brings me back! Let's see, there was Glic, and Cróga? She could control the weather... And the main guy said "Shtum" a lot... I can only remember random images and words... a tree was planted... quartz?... a big mansion house... diggers in a forest... a man with a hat with corks hanging out of it?

    Good times.


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    #14
    archy1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16 ✭archy1


    there is a youtube extract showing a small animated trailer of these little guys in action. Characters were created by Pat Meehan.


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    #15
    archy1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16 ✭archy1


    Apologies KIY , I omitted your dad's name , Niall Spratt from my tag...

    ps I went to school with Eamonn Eliott, and he has also passed away ..a lovely lad,


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    #16
    NadzMeehanRyan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭NadzMeehanRyan


    Well hello hello hello. Pat Meehan’s grand daughter here. :)
    I see some people have a gist of what The Shamrogues are about. Let me elaborate.
    Yes there were five little stones. Trom, The Wise One. Gorum, The Thinker. Glic, The Smart One. Croga, The Brave. And last but not least, Sona, The Optimist.
    (Trom's catchphrase was "HARUMP!")
    They were entrusted with the power of the ancient high druids of Ireland when magic became forbidden. A druid known as Caffa concealed these five stones in Newgrange. He carved an Ogham stone and buried it by the River Boyne, marking it with an oak sapling.Thousands of years later, the Ogham stone was stumbled upon by a little girl named Niamh during a game of Hide and Seek. On the Winter Solstice the Shamrogues were awoken from their lengthy slumber by Niamh and her siblings. Each Shamrogue had a particular power to help them in their battle to conserve the environment. [/font]
    The first book, The Shamrogues First Challenge, was published in 1990 by Kildanore Press in Dublin.
    It was co-written by Pat Meehan and Niall Spratt (Rest in Peace). A further three books were released and please God another will be added to the series.
    Below is the link to a Promo for the Shamrogues on YouTube.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mki4Lz6IXKw

    One last thing I would like to add is the feeling of disgust I have for the people in this country with no originality. :mad:
    Upon typing “The Shamrogues” into Google and clicking search, it isn’t pages upon pages about the books that are displayed in the search results. It is fan pages of a trad band called the ShamRogues and a company selling tacky Irish souvenirs. Fair enough some people don’t have the best imaginations, but do they really have to steal other people’s ideas?

    Nadine Meehan-Ryan.


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    #17
    thirtythirty
    Registered Users Posts: 1,178 ✭✭✭thirtythirty


    Dredging this thread up a bit, but having read the books ~10 years ago as a kid in senior infants or first class or something, and since having forgotten they even existed, I had a dream out of the blue last night about them! I was only able to remember Gorum's name though. Bizarre!

    Gonna have a look in the attic for them next time I'm home.


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    #18
    Noble Korhedron
    Registered Users Posts: 24 ✭Noble Korhedron


    Can you supply the name of whoever's currently publishing these? I would love to get my hands on them, albeit approx. 16 years later than I originally planned....


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    #19
    Honey-ec
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,844 ✭✭✭Honey-ec


    Noble Korhedron wrote: »
    Can you supply the name of whoever's currently publishing these? I would love to get my hands on them, albeit approx. 16 years later than I originally planned....

    I'd imagine they're out of print years at this stage.


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    #20
    Bobby Baccala
    Registered Users Posts: 7,341 ✭✭✭Bobby Baccala


    Noble Korhedron wrote: »
    Can you supply the name of whoever's currently publishing these? I would love to get my hands on them, albeit approx. 16 years later than I originally planned....

    I know this post is a bit dead, sorry for dragging it up but I'm Pat Meehans grandson, if you're still interested in buying them I can ask him if they're still being sold if you want.


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    #21
    Noble Korhedron
    Registered Users Posts: 24 ✭Noble Korhedron


    P4DDY2K11 wrote: »
    I know this post is a bit dead, sorry for dragging it up but I'm Pat Meehans grandson, if you're still interested in buying them I can ask him if they're still being sold if you want.
    Don't apologise. I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know. Please do. Any info you can get.


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    #22
    Tillytootelles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭Tillytootelles


    Hi Noble Korhedron... It's weird I keep having memories of these books lately. I started off researching it this morning as I could not remember the name. I obviously found what I was looking for... I just bought The First Challenge online and have pre- order The Second Challenge which is being leased from being re published at the end of this month. Anyway I saw your Granddad Pat reply on a previous thread from 2006. I wondered did he ever write and publish the 5th one he spoke of??
    Rip I to Niall who I'm sure Pat finds it difficult to continue without. Personally I see it as nice memorial so people never forget and a new generation gets to enjoy both of their work. I'm planning a family and looking for them to pass on the magic and enjoyment I got from them.


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    #23
    lynski
    Registered Users Posts: 1,585 ✭✭✭lynski


    tily did you get the books?
    I know i am dredging but i think it is justified as this is a specialist subject.
    i found a book in a charity shop after reading this thread and we are enjoying it with the 5yr old at the mo.
    would love to see some more, great to get the traditional elements into a story.


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    #24
    Tillytootelles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭Tillytootelles


    Hi Lynski,

    No not at all. I love them so much and even in my 30's feel special as to be one of those who had the joy of reading them!
    I read my books in order and have a stack to get through before I reach The Shamrogues. The excitement of seeing them beside my bed is making me motor through all the other books. Of course my fiance thinks I'm nuts but I can't help that fuzzy feeling :)
    Yes I found all of them. I'll have to look back at receipts etc to find where I sourced them from for you. So I'll get back on when I have time to look it up if that's ok.
    Delighted your little one is enjoying them..... Anyone know if Pat had any look in finding that publisher as per thread in 2006?


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    #25
    Son0vagun
    Registered Users Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Son0vagun


    Just ordered the first book. Never owned one as a child but always wanted one, so went and bought one!


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    #26
    Tillytootelles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭Tillytootelles


    Hi Lynski/ Everyone,

    Son0vagun I hope it's not just nostalgia talking but if you've a sense of childish adventure like me you'll love them :)

    Here is where I sourced my treasurers

    • The First Challenge bought at abebooks.com for $1.00 via world of books
    • The Second Challenge bought at rareandrecent.com for €5.00
    • The Return of the Shamrogues €4.55 at Kennys.ie
    • Scrap Newgrange!? €2.91 bought at Kennys.ie

    Prices do not include delivery which wasn’t much and well worth it!!

    Hopefully with the revival of the post Patrick Meehan the Author will get back with some update of the next one ??? :p


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    #27
    imogenj
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭imogenj


    Noble Korhedron wrote: »
    Can you supply the name of whoever's currently publishing these? I would love to get my hands on them, albeit approx. 16 years later than I originally planned....

    The books were updated and reprinted by Orpen Press earlier this year. Available at http://www.orpenpress.com/the-shamrogues-first-challenge.html and http://www.orpenpress.com/the-shamrogues-first-challenge.html.


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    #28
    headfunkstevie
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭headfunkstevie


    archy1 wrote: »
    Apologies KIY , I omitted your dad's name , Niall Spratt from my tag...

    ps I went to school with Eamonn Eliott, and he has also passed away ..a lovely lad,

    I grew up across the road from eamonn and i remember her gave me a copy of the shamrouges cant remember which one it was but i remember it was my first book .. was he the annimator or something i remember he had something to do with it . He was a lovely man as wondered what happened to him as he moved when i was young ..


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    #29
    Yenwod
    Registered Users Posts: 514 ✭✭✭Yenwod


    Sorry for dredging this post up from years ago but I was in the zoo today and part of the Wild Lights, there were Ogham stones which suddenly brought the memory of The Shamrogues! I adored the books as a kid although the memory of them are very fuzzy. Re-reading the description above, they’d probably be popular books now since kids are much more into the environment. Clearly ideas before their time. Would be great if there was a reprint; would love to get them for my niece


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    #30
    ladystardust
    Registered Users Posts: 131 ✭✭ladystardust


    Dredging up post again. Eamonn elliott illustrated. Passed away over a decade ago. He was a gorgeous man. He also appeared on the Den, demomstrating some illustrations for the shamrogues. Desperately trying to get this footage. Contacted RTE after he died and they said nothing was properly recorded. If anyone has any contacts, I'd really appreciate. Been looking for such a long time and I know the family would treasure it (he was always a 'behind the camera' kinda guy)



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    #31
    Hermy
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 11,313 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hermy


    CR's Video Vaults has a lot of old Irish TV footage.

    If you haven't already, might be worth asking if they have anything on him.

    https://www.youtube.com/c/conorryan79CRsVideoVaults

    Genealogy Forum Mod



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