The Pebble's Story

Renowned Irish Author Bryan McMahon wrote the story The Pebble for inclusion in an anthology of stories for young adults. As a friend and mentor of Elizabeth O'Carroll (nee Chute), Dr. McMahon based the story on the explanation Elizabeth provided for the 'interesting pendant' she was wearing during one of her visits from Calgary. Bryan was enchanted that a pebble taken from The River Feale in Kerry, Ireland, as a token of early love, was to be made into a pendant in faraway Calgary, Alberta by 'The Goldsmith' jeweler years later.

Bryan McMahon (1919 - 1998)

Despite a demanding job as a school teacher at Scoil Realta na Maidne in Listowel, County Kerry Ireland Dr. McMahon found time to indulge his passion for writing. He first came to national prominence in 1948, when his first collection of short stories, The Lion Tamer, was a huge success and went through four editions in as many months. In the years that followed, his highly successful career as a writer included such publications as the novel, Children of the Rainbow, the collection of short stories, The Sound of Hooves, and one of his most critically-acclaimed books, The Master, which chronicles his years as a school teacher in Listowel. He has also written several plays, including The Honey Spike.