Several people helped in the writing of this book, sometimes knowingly, often not. I’d like to thank the following for their support, friendship, patience, advice and hospitality:
Kenneth Armstrong, David Miller, Clare Reihill, Michèle Ridgway, Geneviève Lynam, Andre and Ailbhe Troubetzkoi, Hilary and David Marshall, Diane Hamer, Liz Naylor, Ed Firth, Stephen Lyons, David Ong, Evelyn Conlon and Sean O’Reilly.
I’d like to thank Peter Sirr at the Liffey Project, whose request for a short piece for their website (www.liffeyproject.net) provoked an early version of what became the first chapter of Animals.
I would also like to acknowledge the generous support of the Authors’ Foundation.
Keith Ridgway, July 2005