The Boy Who Kicked The Nun An buachaill a thug cic do bhean rialta

My first book, The Boy Who Kicked the Nun was formally launched in the Ashdown Park Hotel on Thursday May 30th before an audience of over 200 guests. It was a great night of friendship chat, music and book signing:

 *The talented emcee for the night was Ann Marie Hammel who firstly introduced her daughter Alanna who did an excellent job editing the book.

*Tim Murphy spoke about my values and the sense of integrity in all of my writings.

*Ann Ireton, author, poet and leader of Wordsmith Writers group who wrote the foreword to the book, read excerpts dealing with various aspects of my life.

*Wally O’Neill of Red Books Publishing was eloquent in his praise for the quality of the writing and storytelling and spoke about my involvement in many aspects of writer’s groups in Wexford

·*Patrice Joyce, a longtime friend from Arklow gave a very humorous account of my time as Director of Arklow Music Festival.

*Mary O’Connor from Tinahely, read a excerpt of my book, choosing a piece describing a visit to Altamont Gardens that dealt with the history of the gardens and its many snowdrops.

*John O’Connor, Chairperson of the Wicklow Retired Teachers Association, gave a lively account of the lives of a group of young teachers in digs in the 1960’s.

·*Music was provided by the talented Hollyfort Singing Circle, who sang ‘Lean on me’ and by leading blues guitarist Frank Gallagher who played ‘somewhere over the rainbow’ which greatly added to the atmosphere of the night.

*The book was then launched to a sustained applause by myself and grandchildren Hugh and Kealan Swinburne.

*The launch was followed by a reception with some great food, wines, teas and coffees served up so well by the Ashdown Hotel team.

Thank you to everyone who attended the launch event and everyone who contributed to making the event, an evening I will cherish for a long time. I was truly and completely blown away by the support on the night – thank you from the bottom of my heart.

For anyone who would like to purchase a copy of the book, it is available at Easons,Gorey, Bridge Bookstore, Wicklow town,Springmount Garden Centre,Red books, Wexford Town,Coffee Pod, Town Park,Wolfes in Listowel,John Doyle ,Main Street, from myself or .online here.