A Sheepdog Named Oscar: Love and Companionship in Rural Ireland

By Dara Waldron 200 pages.September 2025. Paperback.B&W photos throughout.   $22.95 | 9781954600294   A moving memoir of grief, healing, and the unbreakable bond between man and dog, set against the lush backdrop of rural Ireland. After the sudden loss of his father, film scholar and father of two boys, Dara Waldron finds unexpected solace in Ireland’s East Clare region. There, on an abandoned farm, he encounters a lone, enigmatic border collie—Oscar. What begins as an animal rescue gradually evolves into a profound companionship that helps Waldron navigate his grief. Oscar is no ordinary dog. A working sheepdog by nature, his instincts pull him to charge ahead—yet always return. As Waldron embarks on daily walks through misty woodlands and along rugged hillsides, their bond deepens. Each step through the Irish countryside becomes part of a ritual of recovery, trust, and understanding. In spare, lyrical prose and accompanied by cinematic images of Oscar’s life, A Sh