ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am grateful for the creative guidance and editing of my writing angel Kate Bootle, and the passion of my agent Marianne Gunn O’Connor, as well as the genius editorial input of Alison Walsh at Tivoli and Imogen Taylor at Macmillan. My precious band of readers was Donna Ansley, Alice Barry, Anakana Schofield, Anne Duggan and Mary McGreal, who gave me valuable critique and friendship. I would also like to thank Dermot Bolger for his insightful critique.

I have been inspired by the wisdom of my late Uncle Amancio, the ethereal etchings of Cora Cummins as a source for Eithne’s work, the vibrant art of Noreen Walshe, in particular the painting In Anima Vitae – The Aran Kiss which features in the book, and the evocative photograph ‘Frozen Reeds in Mist’ by Steve Neale, which was the visual catalyst for the passage on Lough Bán.

Thank you to old friends from England – Jo Southall, Dom Rotheroe, Ajith Hettiaratchy, Synnóve Bakke, Manoushka Gold and Niki Winterson – who pushed me towards the path of writing, and to those in Ireland – Eileen Blishen, Bernie McGrath, Therese Dalton, Jenny Brady, Emer Marron, Debbie Hutchinson, Carol O’Connor, Sarah Beardmore and Anne Hill – who helped me remain steadfast. I am also indebted to Maura Carty and her daughters Rosie and Mags, who helped me so much with stories of life in North County Meath, and by looking after my son while I wrote.

Most of all I thank my family for their unerring support: my mother Claire, my brother Fintan, my son Corey, my step-daughter, Helena, my old faithful Chloë and, finally, Barry, who brought me to North Meath and the beginning of it all.