The launch of Jimmy Rhatigan’s latest bookLove Is…in ParisTexas resembled Oscars’ Night.
But the line-up of stars had nothing to do with glitz or glamour.
The event, and the book, are an affirmation of the positives in life…being kind to others, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, standing up for justice and equality, or just doing a good turn.
Volunteers delve into Hell on earth in a bid to comfort struggling families.
For the book launch, instead of red carpets and razzmatazz there was a welcome on the proverbial mat for the standing room only of Kilkenny City and County folk that filled the brilliant High Street venue that is Paris Texas.
Rapturous applause erupted when Jimmy’s son-in-law Michael Comerford and his son, Jimmy’s loving grandson MJ declared grandad’s book officially launched.
Copies of Love Is… had no sooner been picked up when inquisitive book lovers found themselves immersed in its pages…scanning, skipping, pausing with the thrill of recognition or remembrance, marvelling at the sheer scale of the book project, all 454 pages of community brilliance.
In three months only, the author had penned insightful, revealing, heart-warming, and sometimes heart-wrenching stories based on interviews, along with knowledge of those who had passed away, in all 66 local heroes of courage and kind hearts, each a shining example of what it means to make a real difference.
Explaining the book’s genesis, Jimmy told of his battle with illness and his decision to return to writing, his lifetime love with the aim of publishing a book every year for as long as God spares him.
His passion for journalism proved to be exactly what the doctor ordered.
After 58 years in journalism he shows no sign of calling a halt to a wonderful chapter of life.
He is living proof that retirement need never meas giving up…regardless of one’s profession or status in life.
In the book aficionados of the written word can read a magic mix that includes feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, fostering community sports and other activities, along with housing the homeless and trying to heal the oft life-threatening wounds of struggling families tormented by Vulture Funds.
Illicit drugs and alcohol represent walking on thin ice for many. Community spirit can quench the thirst of the suffering.
The Saint in a truck is Jim Kavanagh who over the years has delivered food and other essentials to families in radiation-riddled Belarus.
Rebel with a cause is Kay Brennan, the Queen of the Butts who has so often been a champion of the cause of workers in angst.
Ger Cody put Kilkenny theatre on the world stage. Former Councillor Breda Gardner’s enlightened approach to politics and healing makes fascinating reading.
Kick-boxer and ice hockey hero Paul Cummins takes on the world and its mother as well as Kilkenny County Council in his courageous fight to acquire proper facilities for the sons and daughters of our city and county.
The late Ned Kennedy of Freshford epitomized the spirit of the Village Schoolmaster for whom teaching was a vocation.
He was a brilliant man who worked tirelessly for his beloved Freshford that would sit comfortably if it were aptly renamed Kennedy Village.
Then there is retired Presentation Convent music teacher Sheila Ryan who devotes her so-called retirement years to helping the poorest of the poor in Tanzania.
Along with fellow volunteers Sheila has performed miracles as local families living in mud huts were provided with modern homes along with a state of the art school where once starving children enjoy proper meals.
Young boys and girls love their new seat of education, a school that should enhance the lifestyle of brave youngsters who not too long ago had no hope in a land where hardship was an unwelcome daily visitor.
Fantastic stories of faith, hope and charity go on and on and on.
The life-saving tales make heart-wrenching reading, none more so than the Herculean deeds of Mary Pierce, her husband Brendan and Jackie Cullen, a trinity that plays father, mother and favourite aunt to the poor, old, aged and ill of the greater Kilkenny and the poor at the heartland of hardship in deprived Dublin.
Love is…is a fantastic insight into what might be termed Hell on Earth.
It is written in Jimmy Rhatigan’s inimitable style of journalism that highlight the brilliant work of our community volunteers who toil unselfishly under the radar, never seeking reward or fame as they battle for the unfortunates who our Government have failed
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael politicians tend to look the other way as homelessness drifts to a National Emergency.
Jimmy Rhatigan pulls no punches when he brands the FF, FG Governors as The Toxic Twins.
Love is…is compulsive reading.
Jimmy’s third book is on sale at Khan’s Books, James’s Street. It sells at €20.
A limited number of his previous books, Mud, Sweat & Jeers and Treasure Lost, Treasure Found are available from Khan’s and from the author: 0871525741 or [email protected]
All pictures: Danny Lahart
