My Lords of Strogue, Vol. 1 (of 3) A Chronicle of Ireland, from the Convention to the Union

The story opens on a fever‑dream of Dublin in November 1783, when the city erupts in a riot of green and orange banners, ringing bells, and parades of the Irish Volunteers. Streets overflow with carriages, garlands, and armoured officers, while ladies in semi‑military dress glide through the crowd, their laughter echoing against the stone façades of the Castle and Trinity College. In this dazzling tableau, the sense of sudden, hard‑won freedom is palpable, yet a subtle pressure hints at the fragile bargain beneath the festivities.

Amid the pageantry, the narrative follows a handful of Dubliners—from ambitious officers to scheming aristocrats—each wrestling with the promises and perils of an emerging nation. Their private ambitions clash with public ideals, and the celebratory mood conceals bitter rivalries that could reshape Ireland’s future. As the first act unfolds, listeners are drawn into a world where history and personal drama intertwine, setting the stage for the turbulent road toward the Union.