‘County Lines’ – a portrait of life in South Dublin County, edited by Dermot Bolger

Last Thursday saw the launch, in Tallaght Library, of a series of audio books by the local studies section. There are eight books in all and a contribution from me appears in one of them, the ‘County Lines’ book (the book was originally published by New Island press). It’s entitled ‘Oh Brave New World!’ and concerns the heady enthusiastic first few years when Kathy and I moved into our semidetached house in Hillcrest, Lucan, and I began writing ‘in earnest’. Many of the poems from that period featured in my first collectoion from Lapwing (‘Dispatches and Recollections’ 1998). It’s that sort of book, full of memories and bits and pieces of personal and communal history. It’s very well produced and I am proud to be in it alongside my neighbours. Full marks to Dermot Bolger, who initiated the project, and to the readers Emer Horgan and Jonathen White who did such a good job on bringing the pieces to life.