A lifetime of memories included in Laois man’s new book
New author Ger Healion pictured with his daughter Gráinne and wife Anne at the book launch in Mountmellick Library Photos: Stan Henderson
MOUNTMELLICK man Ger Healion who now lives in Co Kildare with his family launched his debut book titled in his native town’s library on Tuesday 30 September and will hold a second book launch event in Naas Library on Tuesday 21 October.
The book is an evocative, entertaining, thoughtful and deeply considered memoir of captivating and humorous short stories from Ger’s life and the influence his hometown had on his growing years during the 60s, 70s and 80s.
The collection honours a time, a place and a community and is filled with absorbing local stories and great characters. The book will relate much more widely to small-town Ireland from that period in time.
Despite the dark evening and heavy rain almost 70 people attended the book launch which Ger said was much more than he had hoped for.
The author, who self-published, sold out as people kept climbing the stairs of the library and queueing up to get their copies signed. Some people were buying two, three and even four copies and having them signed with special dedications for family and friends who couldn’t make the launch.
Speaking to the before the launch Ger spoke about his debut book. When asked where the title came from, he said: “The name comes from one of the English versions of what Mountmellick or Móinteach Mílic means, and it describes the place perfectly. The book is based on stories from my memories of things that happened when I lived here from being a young child until I left Mountmellick in 1987.
“In 2004 I went back to education as an adult learner. In about 2010 I did a part-time degree in Maynooth, and part of that degree was embarking on a week-long summer writing course in Kilkenny with author, actor and playwright John MacKenna. John helped me an awful lot with lots of stuff that I wouldn’t have known, and the course focused on writing what you know about.
“What was coming to me on John’s course was things that I experienced while growing up in Mountmellick. The first thing that I wrote about on that course is in the book. The book started with me writing things down on scraps of paper as memories came to me and then typing them into the computer and editing them from there.
“You get a bit of distance when you write by pen, read it back and then edit as you go along.”
Once everyone had settled, Mountmellick Library manager Amanda Hyland thanked everyone for attending and Ger for choosing to launch his book in the library. She passed over to Ger’s friend Paul Hyland who told some funny stories of the two growing up together which included some well-received banter between them. Paul then introduced the town’s latest author who read a story titled from his book, held a questions and answers session and then encouraged everyone to write down their life stories and experiences saying that it is important that they are documented for the next generations.
For any Laois people who missed the launch and for his community in Kildare and further afield, Ger is holding another book launch event at 7pm in Naas Library on Tuesday 21 October. Copies of the book and light refreshments will be available on the night, and everyone is welcome to attend.
For any queries the author can be contacted by emailing gerhealion.act@gmail.com Copies will soon be available from some local bookshops.
