I am very honoured that the great Gareth O’Callaghan wrote the Foreword to this book. Gareth himself is an inspiration for all seasons, because of his courage and positivity in the face of his capacity to challenge Multiple System Atrophy. He can only do so because of the love and support of Paula.
Whenever he needs someone
To lay his heart and head upon
Remember, after the fire, after all the rain
Paula will be the flame.
My very particular thanks to Alice Taylor and Kathy Sinnott for their support.
Special thanks to Martina Fitzgerald, Mark Patrick Hederman, Angela Keogh, John MacKenna, Peter McVerry, Colm McGlynn, Emma Spence, Marion Carroll, Lydia Greene for their contributions.
I pay homage to three departed giants of Irish life – Seamus Heaney, John O’Donohue and Michael Hartnett – in this book. I hope they are sharing Celtic wisdom in heaven. Graham Greene spoke of ‘the writer’s credit’. Each of them have earned theirs.
As always I am grateful to my good friend, John Littleton, for his practical support.
My deep gratitude to Brendan Kennelly for his generous permission to use a number of his poems in this collection. All poems by Brendan Kennelly are printed with permission of the author and the Brendan Kennelly Literary Trust, 2019. All rights are reserved. None of his poems quoted here may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the Brendan Kennelly Literary Trust.
David Patton’s documentary, ‘The Spiritual Journey of Ireland’, is a helpful exploration of Ireland’s spiritual heritage.
Thanks to all at Black & White, particularly Campbell Brown for backing this book so enthusiastically. My thanks also to Simon Hess and Declan Heeney for their support.
In March we mourned the passing of the much-loved Vera Mahon. Her loss is immense for her daughters Mary and Jackie. She leaves the world in a better place for having her in it. She leaves us enriched for the gift of her presence.
Likewise the loss of Gary Ondecko was a profound sadness for his loving family. His memory is their keepsake with which they will never part. May God take him to his keeping while his family keep him in their heart.
The Carmelite community in Avila in beyond were greatly saddened by the passing of the very popular Father Stan Callanan after a life of service in Australia, England, Nigeria and Ireland. May eternal light shine upon him in his final resting place in his native Galway. Kyrie eleison, Christie eleison.
Finola Lyons has been in my thoughts in recent times. May good times be with her.
I was in awe of Jo Looney’s courage and resilience this Spring. If Jimmy Magee was still around to describe her he would have summed her up as: ‘Different class.’ She has to be the woman of the year.
A close contender has to her daughter, Linda Golden, who said goodbye to a career in teaching this year after a lifetime of dedicated service. Generations of grateful students are in her deep debt.
Easter 2020 was the most unique Easter since the very first one. The message of new life though was confirmed with the birth of Noel Graham Spence Rice and Nevin Jackie Abel Rice to their proud parents Emma and Peter. I hope they will know many great days.
There was great sadness in July for the family of Mary O’Brien. As she leans over the bannisters of heaven her memory will continue to live on in the hearts of the many people who loved her.