ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

If you’ve reached the end of this book, chances are you’ve read all five instalments of the Aisling series, so míle buíochas for the support. When we pivoted into authoring seven years ago we couldn’t have dreamed we’d still be here in 2023. It has been a joy and a privilege to keep Aisling’s story going, and we hope you love the ending we gave her.

We are forever grateful to the villages of Kill, Co. Kildare, and Borris, Co. Carlow, for each inspiring Ballygobbard in their own way. The same goes for the pubs, shops and local characters whose spirit is in the pages of these novels. You can take the girls out of the country, but not the country out of the girls.

To our parents and families, thank you for the books, trips to the library and fostering a love of reading in us from a young age. It was one of the first things we bonded over when we met at Ballyfermot College of Further Education all those years ago.

Eoin Matthews, thank you for clearing the kitchen table when we needed to have an extremely professional meeting and for always holding the babies when it was time to work.

We couldn’t have done any of this without being able to moan about deadlines to our friends. They are, in no particular order: Louise Keegan, Sheloa Nichols, Imogen Pollard, Unity Pollard, Breda Gittons, Aine Bambrick, Cliff Barragry, Sophie White, Louise McSharry, Esther O’Moore Donohoe, Deirdre Ball, Fiona Hyde, Ciara Sammon, Conor O’Brien, Richard Toner, Sarah Kisch, the Glossy Posse and the Break Your Face Naas gals. Thanks for listening.

Eternal gratitude to Ciara and Gav Reilly, and love always to the luckiest and loveliest gals, D & B.

We are spoilt by the team at Gill Books, who have gone above and beyond from day one to get Aisling out into the world. Special thanks to Ruth Gill and Nicki Howard.

To Conor Nagle who suggested we write OMGWACA in the first place, we owe you many drinks. Thank you for having faith in us and, with the help of Catherine Gough, helping us to build the Aisling universe.

Our first meeting with Teresa Daly was over a bottle of wine in a pub, and we’ve since shared many, many, many more bottles over the years. Thank you, T, for your creativity in publicity and marketing and, most recently, your editorial input. And cheers for picking up the tab.

To Aoibheann Molumby, our most patient and understanding editor, thanks for getting it and then letting us run with it. The same goes for our copyeditor, Emma Dunne. We live for your ‘… or is this just an Aislingism?’ comments.

When it comes to publicity, Fiona Murphy reigns supreme. Thank you for your enthusiasm for blowing the budget for Aisling and for occasionally booking us a chauffeur. You know how much those little water bottles thrill us.

Paul Neilan, you are the James Bond of sales. Thank you for the numbers. Also to Linda, we are always pleased to see The Linda popping into our inboxes.

To Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann, Aisling Lenihan and all at Element Pictures, one day when we’re watching Aisling on screen, it will all have been worth it. We appreciate your tenacity and you have undoubtedly made us better writers.

Our agent Sheila Crowley is the best in the biz. She never fails to steer us in the right direction, and we live for her tales from the industry. Thanks for always having our backs, Sheila. We feel very safe in your hands.

We are one hundred per cent certain this series wouldn’t have been as successful as it was if not for the vociferous support and encouragement from the one and only Marian Keyes. We would make it dark and rainy every day for you if we could, Marian.

And finally, India Matthews, Esme Matthews and Felix Matthews, we did all this to impress you. Why hasn’t it worked?