Himself

Shamrock Hill Books was formed to make hard-to-find books about the American Civil War (and some Irish History/Culture) a bit easier to find.   Although I have always enjoyed history, it wasn't until I married Susan (raised in Virginia on Civil War History)  that the American Civil War (or War Between The States as she says) focused my attention on one particular period.  That led to becoming a Civil War reenactor portraying a member of the 69th New York, Irish Brigade (what did you expect from a guy named O'Dwyer?)

Part of my "fifteen minutes of fame" was gained as a "background artist" in the movies Gettysburg (Union and Confederate-see below for Confederate view) and Avenging Angel (distinguished looking Mormon "elder" seated behind Charlton Heston/Brigham Young in one scene!).  

Ed just before being promoted to Sgt. for the Pickett's Charge Scene	A man with three wives in the movie "Avenging Angel."

After getting an MBA at the University of Santa Clara (California), I took early retirement from IBM in 1992 (I'm younger than I look).  Rather than find another job as a "staff guy" making an executive look good, I decided to create my own job.   Following my return from participating in the movie "Gettysburg," I started Shamrock Hill Books  in California to merge my love of history and books.  In my spare time I managed to get in a few school presentations on Civil War history for students studying that period. My son Jim also helped out at these by showing the kids what a two-year-old wore during that period.  He enjoyed helping teach history, but complained that the clothes "make me look like a girl!"

In 1995 we moved from California to Georgia (just north of Atlanta) for a number of reasons, but being closer to the battlefields does have its appeal.  Our home has been christened Shamrock Hill.

Shamrock Hill
Take me home to Shamrock Hill
The glorious place of my birth
Where the glens are green and the heather grows--
'Tis the prettiest place on earth --
The wind blows free and the air is fresh
And I still hear a rippling rill.
My heart is sad, but it could be glad --
Take me home to Shamrock Hill.
          E. Gary Brooks

In 1995 the webpage catalog was started and it has been steadily growing. Shamrock Hill is also expanding into other periods of history and Irish culture, so look for an expanding list of titles as time progresses.  
The bad news is that if the major chains have a destructive effect on the small on-line bookstores, the eventual effect IMHO is a smaller selection of titles available since "slow sellers" are not tolerated by the chains. But, enough of my bookseller soapbox! :-)

One of the basic policies of this business is to support historic preservation (even in years that don't show a profit).  Each year the family decides which historic preservation group(s) to support .  In 1993 it was Cedar Creek, and in 1994 we sponsored the preservation of one of the flags of the 24th Michigan.  We hope you will take a personal step to preserve history in your part of the world.  In 1997 I set a policy of sending "Care" packages out to our troops in Bosnia (and now Kosovo) with some candy, cookies, and a book along with a note of Thanks!   I've lost count on the number of packages I've sent out, but I've received some nice notes back from the troops that got them and knowing that it made a difference in their lives makes it all worth while.  That all came to a screeching halt in the aftermath of 9/11.  Now I put a big box of packages together and give it to a military mom to get packages to some troops.
 

Unlike most  large mass-market book stores (McBooks as someone called them), we have a phone number where you can talk to a real person (when I'm in the office), you can open up an e-mail account to make ordering easy and available 24 hours a day, and unlike large book clearance centers, we take credit cards! :-)

Above all, it is my personal goal to get every order out the door as fast as possible! We don't always make it, but it isn't because we don't try!  We hope to be of service to you and everyone you know!
           Good reading and please tell your relatives and friends about us!
     Ed (Eamonn) O'Dwyer

Ed 2006: Member of the Georgia State Defense Force, 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade