New poetry book inspired by Mayo roots

CHRIS Naylor, a proud Irish citizen with deep roots in County Mayo, has announced the publication of Inspired by My Roots - An Irish Poetry Chapbook.

This captivating collection of poems delves into Chris’s personal connection to his homeland, exploring themes of identity, heritage and the profound beauty of Ireland.

Chris’s grandfather, Vince McNicholas, was born in Barnacogue, Swinford, and emigrated to England in the 1950s, looking for work with his brother, Tommie. The two brothers eventually settled in Croxdale, where they married two sisters, Anne and Monica.

Although Chris never had the chance to meet Vince, who died aged just 35, his legacy lives on through his children, grandchildren, and those who remember him.

Featuring 24 short poems inspired by connections to County Mayo, his family’s history, and Chris’s own experiences of what it means to be a member of the Irish diaspora, Inspired by My Roots can be ordered online at rootedinireland.ie in paperback and as a downloadable PDF, and on Amazon.

Chris's passion for poetry and storytelling reflects his deep connection to his Irish heritage.

In Inspired By My Roots he weaves together short, poignant poems that transport readers to the landscapes and histories of Ireland.

With a style that is at once lyrical and accessible, Chris's poems capture the spirit of Ireland and the human experiences that connect us all. Whether you're a poetry lover or simply looking for a window into Irish culture, Inspired By My Roots is a must-read.

A chapbook is a short collection of poems, that is often referred to as a pamphlet, and this book includes 24 poems that draw from Chris's Irish heritage. Additional pages share some of the places that have inspired Chris's adventures, including Keem Bay - made even more famous by Oscar-nominated film The Banshees of Inisherin - as well as Knock Shrine, Mellett's Emporium and Croagh Patrick.

The poems in this chapbook have been inspired by Chris's grandfather Vince, who, along with his brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents, all left Ireland at one point or another, in search of work, family and a new life.

One of the most striking examples of this is that three generations of the family travelled from Mayo to Croxdale, a small village in northeast England, where they all found employment at local farms, open-cast mines and construction sites.