I am a great believer in the idea that if you ‘follow your bliss’ and do the things you are meant to do in this life, something seems to take over and order your affairs for you. Call it synchronicity, luck, coincidence – whatever. Things just seem to work, the ducks are put in a row, doors open, it seems almost too easy.
Setting up GIY Ireland was a case in point. From the very start, people got involved who seemed to know what to do next, when I most assuredly didn’t. We have made so many new friends in the past year among the GIY groups already in existence – thank you, one and all! Special thanks to all those who were involved in getting GIY Ireland off the ground for giving their time, passion and great ideas so generously. Thanks to our fellow meithealers – Feargal, Dave, Bryan, Ciaran, Caoimhín and Nicky – I can’t tell you how enjoyable you have made the past year.
I am enormously grateful to my publisher, Michael O’Brien, who shared a clear vision of where this book needed to go and continues to be such a supportive advocate. My wonderful editor, Ide Ní Laoghaire, once again showed razor-sharp insights in helping me convert manuscript into book – I think she may even have caught the growing bug herself along the way!! Thanks to all at The O’Brien Press for their unstinting support and hard work.
To Anne Cullen for helping me with the monthly Grower’s Calendars, and Paula Mee for her input on the nutritional value of vegetables. To my sister and organic grower extraordinaire, Niamh, at Maybloom Farm, for taking long, meandering phone calls from me when she should have been working!
If you like what you read in these pages there’s plenty more on offer on my website (www.michaelkelly.ie) – the reason it looks so professional is down to the sterling efforts of the team at Emagine Media, particularly Aaron Jay. Thanks also to Mick Brown for his unheralded work on the GIY site (www.GIYIreland.com).
Thanks to my friends, family and extended family for their continued support and encouragement. After all, what is life really worth unless you surround yourself with people you love? The greatest debt of thanks, as ever, is due to the person whom I am so incredibly lucky to share this life’s journey with – so, to Eilish, my anam cara, thank you.