Description There was something about my Dad, Paddy O’Brien, whom I sadly lost on December 3rd 2000. He was one of the kindest, most patient, tolerant, deeply understanding and intuitive people I knew. It is the calibre of the person that he was that inspired me to write about him. The poems which you will read in my book just came naturally as I started grieving for him. I have wanted to write a tribute to him for a long time and also thought that perhaps what I’ve written might help other people going through the grief of losing someone special. About the Author I was born in the small village of Finney, Co Mayo, Ireland, the third last of eight children in 1959. My childhood was idyllic in many ways, I spent a lot of time when school was finished outdoors with my Dad looking after animals on our small farm. It was during those years that I observed a lot of the good traits in my Father’s nature, his kindness and how gentle and patient he was with animals and people alike. I left home a few weeks short of my 16th birthday and came to family in London, England to look for work. I’ve lived in London since 1975. I enjoyed reading and learning poetry as a young girl and as I reached my teenage years I wrote the odd poem here and there, usually about subjects close to my heart. Over the years I’ve found that the urge to express my feelings and thoughts in poetry usually came about at times of crisis and/or sadness in my life. That I believe is how these poems came about, I was grieving for my Dad in a foreign land and the pull on my heartstrings was very much for home, and home was where I had spent many happy hours in Dad’s company. I met my husband Sean in the early eighties and we married in 1986. We have two children, Kerry and Martin. Sean is from Bunnacornane in Connemara Co. Galway. The first time my husband brought me home, I instantly fell in love with the people and place. An affinity, which I’m happy to say, continues to this very day. I feel very welcomed and very much at home there. I grew up speaking Irish (Gaeilge) and English equally from birth. I love old Irish language songs (Sean-os) and traditional Irish music, my Mom plays the accordion. I also really enjoy Country and Western music. I believe music is as integral to the soul as food is to the body. I have written a lot more poetry since I finished my Dad’s and I hope to continue to do so as I enjoy the completed articles.
