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The Quiet Sea by Tom Richards

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  I am so pleased to announce the online availability of my latest Novella. To purchase this Digital copy, email me:  mailto:tomrichards141@gmail.com . The price is only $2.99. This new story is the latest from Author Tom Richards. The Quiet Sea A Novella by Tom Richards Premise: To save himself from certain death, an Old Man (Jake Cowley) flees to Dursey Island, a place with no communications to the Mainland of Ireland. There, he makes himself known as Tommy O’Neill, an alias that fools the Village Islanders into thinking he’s a fisherman. Using his experience of fishing in the Gulf Stream, Tommy and a young Islander, Donal McCarthy, are almost killed when a giant shark destroys their small boat. Donal voyages back to Dursey knowing Tommy will succumb to his injuries. On Dursey, as Tommy is dying, he tells them the truth: he is a wealthy man. Jake rewrites his will leaving Donal and his wife Judith a fortune to rebuild the Village and Educate their children. Jake dies and whe...
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Why is the Cost of Almost Everything in the United States More Expensive than Ireland

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  One of the downsides - and the only one I can think of - is the 'high' price of almost everything. Buying or leasing a home or apartment in any Large Irish City or large town (think Dublin, Galway, Killarney or Cork) has become PROHIBITIVELY expensive. Renting or buying in Rural Ireland (a village such as Eyeries) is almost Impossible! In Eyeries, as one example, Planning Laws along the coast of Southwest Ireland prohibit almost anyone from building new homes, apartment blocks or any 'tall' structure that might change the coastline or coastal view. The average price to rent a small cottage with a sea view (like mine) is well over $1000 per month. Which isn't much compared to what you'd pay in the United States.     As another example: if I rented the house I'm in right now in Crystal Lake, Illinois, the price would be $2,200 or a little more. This rental would be fully furnished (as mine is) but would not have the views or the scenery of a coastal home in ...
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A FUNNY THING HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I PASSED A TESLA PICKUP TRUCK

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Whoa Be to Toyota Who Now Manufactures Tesla Pickups? Not too long ago in my small village of Eyereis, County Cork, Ireland, my friends and I were having a pint in our local Pub. Looking up at the TV, we all saw Musk take a stage brandishing a chainsaw. All of us laughed at his wild antics.   "Sure, there be a Leprachaun with a Chainsaw!" one shouted as he downed his pint. "God above us, lads! That Musk Man wants to saw my brand new Tesla in half!" Running out the door, we saw him climb in that very Modern electric car and try to start to Electric Engine. After a moment, he ran back into the Pub again. "There be anyone here who has a long extension lead?" he asked us as we sat back and smirked into our Pints. "That wonderful, expensive car of mine hasn't a bit of electric juice left!" Which is a lesson for those living in Rural Areas. In Eyeries, we have only one charging station, and that's in Castletownbere, about 8 km from where we all...
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A PINT OF GUINNESS IN THE UNITED STATES? FORGET IT! UNLESS YOU'RE VERY LUCKY...

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A Pint of Guinness in the United States? A SIN Against All Those Who Drink Real Guinness Dear all ye who read this. First, a very Happy Saint Patrick's Day. In only two days as I write this on 15 March, 2025, it will be time to 'Drown the Shamrock' by taking a Pint of Fine Irish Black in both hands and sipping slowly on it.  Second, a big shout out to a very fine man,   CLIFF, the editor of the Irish American News based near Chicago, Illinois, USA. You can find their website here:   https://www.irishamericannews.com/ . This great online and physical newspaper gives our local Diaspora the very latest news from Ireland and all of those organizations having Irish connections - and their are many full-blooded Irish People in the Chicago area, and I'm one of them at least for now! But back to the above headline. I've had the wonderful opportunity to travel to many places in this big huge world of ours: Ireland of course (and I've driven all over the country, to all c...
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WERE YOU BORN IN THE U.S. AND HAVE CLOSE IRISH ANCESTRY? READ THIS!!!

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  If You Were Born in the United States and Have Close Irish Ancestry, Here’s How YOU Can Become an Irish Citizen … some actions you can take NOW!   By Tom Richards I should start by explaining that I was born in Chicago and am therefore an American Citizen. Up until I met an Irish woman when on vacation in the UK and County Louth, Ireland, I had no plans to become a citizen of Ireland. When I married that wonderful woman who was born in County Meath, I soon learned that I was legally entitled to that incredible opportunity. The process back in 1982 was simple. Having moved to Navan, County Meath permanently,   I was ordered to report to the local Irish Police Station (the Garda Siochana) once a month to sign a document stating that I was still married to her, continued to live in the area with her and our children, and was gainfully employed. I received my Irish Citizenship in 1997 – a process that has allowed me to live there for over 43 years. Since then, I conti...
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IN AMERICA, WHY GRIEF IS A JOURNEY OF ISOLATION

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  In America, Why is Grief a Journey of Isolation? … four ways to help you cope with loss and how friends and family can help By Tom Richards                  Just over three years ago Joanna (not her real name), a friend of mine then working for a company in Chicago, learned that her thirty-year-old daughter, her only child, had committed suicide. Consumed with grief, she was given one week off by management. Joanna knew it would take much more time to even start coping with the grief she felt. When she came back to work, she tried to carry out assigned tasks but failed. Two weeks later, completely dissatisfied with her performance, management fired her. She was found by work colleagues crying inconsolably in a restroom, not about the loss of her job but about her daughter’s death. Embarrassed by her grief and feeling that they couldn’t help, her friends left the room. Unfortunately, Joanna is not...
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  What Memories! A Trip to Lisdoonvarna (County Clare), the Burren and the Dolmen Standing Stone Last September 2023, I had the sudden temptation to up sticks, leave Eyeries and journey to County Clare. While I'd been there before with my family, I had never had the chance to stay in Lisdoonvarna or take a side trip to the Burren with its amazing Ancient Dolmen Standing Stone.  If you've never been to County Clare, you're in for a real Treat! When I was there, the weather was beautiful. It being the week of the local Dance Festival, people were dancing in the Streets to Irish Country Music, which is rather like US Country Music but with an Irish Twang, not a southern one. I met some amazing people who welcomed me with open arms. I stayed in a local hotel and a Bed and Breakfast (which wasn't too far from Town), and had amazing meals in both places (The BnB, Knockaguilla, was outstanding. I stayed for 3 nights. Breakfast was, of course, included but it was 'help your...
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