Des Ekin is a retired journalist and the author of four books. Born in County Down, Northern Ireland, he began his career as a reporter. After spending several years covering the Ulster Troubles, he rose to become Deputy Editor of the Belfast Sunday News before moving to his current home in Dublin. He worked as a journalist, columnist, Assistant Editor and finally Political Correspondent for The Sunday World until 2012. His book The Stolen Village (2006) was shortlisted for the Argosy Irish Nonfiction Book of the Year and for Book of the Decade in the Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards 2010. He is married with a son and two daughters.
one of the most turbulent periods in Irish history is brought
dramatically to life … terrific … fascinating
*Sunday World*
Irish journalist Ekin (The Stolen Village) effectively brings to
life this fateful but largely forgotten second effort to claim
England for Catholicism and the Spanish Hapsburgs. It’s a detailed
narrative filled with heroism, treachery, dynastic politics, and
adultery—the makings of a soap opera, except that all of it
actually happened. Ekin wrings nearly everything he can from
various archives; when details threaten to overwhelm the narrative,
the voices of the participants—whether monarchs or lowly
soldiers—revive the reader from fatigue. Where the archives are
silent, Ekin offers prudent judgments about what might have
occurred while reporting fairly on earlier participants’ and
historians’ differing conclusions
*Publishers Weekly*
a historical page-turner with acts of heroism, betrayal, espionage,
self-aggrandizement and self-sacrifice
*shelf-awareness.com*
a triumph of readability … for those who haven’t studied the period
of the Spanish Armada up to about 1610, it seems rather an obscure
subject, but Des Ekin makes it fascinating and utterly readable.
It’s worth your attention … a must read
*Bookgasm.com*
entertaining, chatty, and superbly researched, replete with
fascinating anecdotes and tragicomic relief, this is popular
history at its finest. It is sure to appeal to aficionados of Irish
and military history. Fans of Arturo Perez-Reverte’s Captain
Alatriste adventures will delight in seeing real-life
counterparts in action at the Siege of Kinsale
*Library Journal*
Ekin (The Stolen Village) effectively brings to life this fateful
but largely forgotten second effort to claim England for
Catholicism and the Spanish Hapsburgs. It’s a detailed narrative
filled with heroism, treachery, dynastic politics, and adultery—the
makings of a soap opera, except that all of it actually happened.
Ekin wrings nearly everything he can from various archives; when
details threaten to overwhelm the narrative, the voices of the
participants—whether monarchs or lowly soldiers—revive the reader
from fatigue … Ekin’s work is a nice contribution to the historical
literature, and one very well told
*Publishers Weekly*
the author's gift for deep, comprehensive historical study and his
ability to keep characters fresh in readers' minds bring this
battle between Spain's best general and Queen Elizabeth's
favourite, Charles Blount, to the awareness it has been denied …
The author explains the terrain, battles, siege construction, and
weaponry well enough to please any military historian, but the real
prizes here are the author's discussions of the effect of the
battle on Spain as its empire died and England's colonies grew, the
end of Spain's religious wars, the shift of power in England, and
the cataclysm as Gaelic Ireland declined and died. A fantastic book
that finally assigns Kinsale its rightful place in history
*Kirkus*
enthralling
*Irish Independent*
fast-paced … a welcome gift for anyone interested in the history of
our shores
*The Bandon Opinion*
great read … very entertaining
*The Marian Finucane Show*
superb
*Clare County Express*
the intrigues, the siege, the battle and the aftermath are
brilliantly realised by the author
*The Irish Catholic*
what an extraordinary story
*The Pat Kenny Show*
fascinating … lovely and enthralling … Ekin is a wonderful guide
through this engrossing tale
*Sunday Times*
fascinating
*Sunday World*
Des Ekin’s The Last Armada does a tremendous job
uncovering the personalities, the political maneuvering, and the
actions behind the myth, and reveals a dramatic and fascinating
tale of 100 days which led to the death of the old Gaelic
nobility
*A Trip to Ireland*
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