Aoife's Amazing Animals

by Meri Keane

Aoife (pronounced ‘ee-fuh’) is a lady farmer who lives in the West of Ireland. Her wandering sheep, Mark, tells a story that takes place in a gentle time, back when life was a bit slower and restful. Mark has a grand coat of fur, and he is known throughout Ireland for producing the finest wool on the island. Several animal pals join Mark in a great ADVENTURE. Meet the bossy dog, the clever fox, the very pink pig and the rest of the gang. Follow their tale and see if they can sort it all out. Or will this be the last straw?

Aoife's Amazing Animals

Aoife's Character Names
by Joe Keane, the illustrator

Mark
Our star sheep is named after our good friend in Ireland. Mark has a wonderful sense of humor and an abundant knowledge of Irish history. Not only does he drive, but he also sings as we travel our way through the villages and towns.

Rua (Madra Rua)
Our clever, sweet red fox. Madra means dog in Irish and Rua refers to the colours of red or russet. Rua tries to stay in the background, but he can't help himself when he feels the need to entertain or to put on a show.

Bonni
Our herding dog is named after Bonniconlon, a village in north County Mayo. The village is also referred to as Bunnyconnellan. The town is separated into two townlands, one to the east and one to the west. Our Bonnie is like the actual town because she too has separate natures...one that is stern and demanding, and one that is gentle and protective.

Louis Burgh
Our friendly donkey, gets his name from the town of Louis Burgh, also located in County Mayo. A portion of the town overlooks Clew Bay, a natural ocean bay sheltered by the mountains of Croagh Patrick and the Nephin Beg range. Our donkey is as sheltered as Clew Bay, not by mountains, but by the love and friendship he shares with his best friend, the horse Clif
Den. They are so close their names are joined together to reflect their tight bond (LouLiff.)

Cliff Den
Our once-lonely horse, is named for Clifden, a coastal town in County Galway. It is the largest town in the region of Connemara, facing the Atlantic Ocean. Connemara is known for its mountains, bogs, lakes, and parks. Cliff may have developed a sad personality because, as a youngster, he had very few friends as he roamed these precious and ancient lands. His connection to
his donkey friend Louis revived his happiness, making him proud to be called LouLiff.

Ross Muck
Our polished pink pig, named after a village that lies between the towns of Clifden and the city of Galway. Rosmuck has a small population but a history going back many centuries. The word muc, in Irish, means "rounded hills" or "pig." Some have described the land, when gazing from a distance, as looking like the rounded backs of farm animals. Many notable residents of Rosmuck include activists, writers, actresses, and political figures. Our Ross Muck is just one of many fine creatures to come out of this magnificent land.

Tara O'Hara
Our designer sheep, whose name comes from the movie, Gone with the Wind. In the film, Gerald O'Hara owns a beautiful southern plantation. Gerald was born and raised in Ireland before emigrating to America. He named his posh home Tara. He has a charming but fickle daughter named Katie Scarlett. Tara O'Hara, our fancy and distinctively marked lady lamb, takes her given name from the plantation, Tara. She is like Scarlett...good-looking, graceful, and delicate, but also vain, proud, and full
of her own glory.

Aoife O'Reilly
Our lovely affectionate farmer. The name Aoife is of Irish Gaelic origin. It is a popular name in Ireland, meaning beautiful or radiant. Several heroines from Irish legends are named Aoife. Her surname, 'Reilly, is thought to be kinsmen of the O'Conor kings of Connacht, many of them great warriors. Aoife's family name is associated with a coat of arms representing faith, sincerity, and justice. Perfect words to describe our kindhearted Aoife.

Cian James
The keeper of the gates at the castle, is a Gaelic name meaning "ancient." It also means "enduring one." It seems certain that Aoife hopes to have an enduring relationship with Cian going into the future. We will learn more about Cian as the adventures of our animals continue in their next book.