I am indebted to David Butler for his encouragement, support and comment on drafts of the text. The writing of this novel was supported by a mentorship grant from Words Ireland and benefitted from a residency in Greywood Arts Centre. The cover art features detail from a reconstruction painting by Matthew Ryan (http://matthewryanhistoricalillustrator.com/) of St Mary’s Abbey gatehouse, Dublin. The map images were produced by Morgan Girvin (https://morgangirvin.com/). Thank you to Holly Monteith and Cynren Press for believing in this book. For all your work and craft, I will always be grateful. And to my parents, Carol and Jim, for a childhood where hills and islands, castles and mounds, trees and rivers, were as prevalent as the support and love you gave us—I can’t thank you enough.