In the Clouds of the Night, by local man Donal Winters from Bornacoola, tells the powerful and heart-wrenching true story of a family’s separation and survival in 1939 Ireland, torn apart by circumstance and time. The book follows the lives of the children of a mixed marriage between Catholic Ciss Beirne and her Protestant husband Thomas Pakenham in 1920s Ireland.
The book is dedicated to Donal’s grandaunt, Kate Beirne (née Winters), who grew up on the same farm as Donal. Kate’s only daughter, Ciss, was one of ten children, and she tragically lost Ciss, whose children also disappeared from her life. Following Ciss's death after the birth of their fourth child, Thomas Pakenham and his four young children fled Dublin in the early hours of March 4, 1939. He packed the car and disappeared, taking his children with him to Northern Ireland, leaving no word behind. Kate went to her grave never knowing what happened to her grandchildren, having suffered the unimaginable loss of another four of her family of ten.
The children’s lives after this sudden disappearance were marked by hardship. They were placed in a care home in Belfast, where they faced overcrowding and food scarcity, particularly during the outbreak of World War II. “When the German Blitz of Belfast started, all families were told to take their children out of Belfast to evacuate them. So quite a few more children were pushed into the orphanage.” As a result, the conditions in the care home worsened as more children were brought in, and resources became increasingly limited.
Despite these challenges, the children persevered and eventually led successful, fulfilling lives. One became a renowned artist, another a lawyer, while others built their lives around family and faith. “Despite all that happened, they feel they had good lives, and while they struggle with some of Thomas Pakenham’s decisions as a father, they saw him as a good grandfather who seemed to soften in many ways in his later years.” This reflects the emotional evolution of Thomas Pakenham, whose earlier decisions were followed by a more reflective period in his later years.
Donal Winters, who spent considerable time researching the story through interviews and genealogy, presents this book as both a memoir and a reflection on the history of the Irish Catholic-Protestant divide. “I had their permission. Of the four children who were born to the lady who died, three of them are still alive, and two of them in particular wanted their story to be told.” Through the author’s research, the story of the children’s years in Belfast and the challenges they faced during their separation from their maternal family is brought to light.
The book concludes with a sense of emotional resolution, as the Pakenham family reconnects with their maternal Leitrim relatives after decades of separation, reflecting on the past with a sense of healing and reconciliation. The story of their journey through trauma, survival, and eventual triumph underscores the enduring power of family bonds.
In the Clouds of the Night is available for purchase on Amazon, Ingram, and through The Reading Room bookshop in Carrick-on-Shannon.
