With origins deeply rooted in the ancient soil of Ireland, branches of the O’Briens nevertheless often found themselves on opposing sides in the bitter and bloody wars that periodically wreaked havoc on their homeland.
• But what they had in common was a proud descent from one of Ireland's greatest warrior kings.
• In contemporary times and in literature, Edna O’Brien, considered to be one of Ireland's greatest living writers, is the novelist and short story writer whose many literary awards include the 1990 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Lantern Slides, while her first book was The Country Girls, the first of a trilogy.
