New Laois book captures memories of growing up in Mountmellick

An engaging new Laois book reminiscing about a Midlands childhood is about to be launched in Mountmellick.

Its author is Ger Healion, an education administrator at Maynooth University.

He grew up on O’Moore Street in Mountmellick, yards away from the courthouse that is now the library where he will launch his book on Tuesday, September 30.

Ger told the Leinster Express / Laois Live all about his first book, ‘On a Bog by the Land near the River’ which has already received a rave review from radio DJ Ian Dempsey.

“I’m the youngest of 4 siblings and the sole boy. I have precious memories of growing up and living in Mountmellick, mostly centred around our home and our end of the town.

“I loved playing soccer up in Jimmy Kelly’s field. It was always a bonus if his donkeys weren’t there. He’d come and tell us to feck off out of that,” he recalls.

As he got older, he formed the locally famous Pyramid rock band with Tony Payne.

“Rehearsing and doing gigs is a fabulous memory, the best of times. But things started getting a bit intense and the fun slipped away so I left,” Ger said.

He got into writing bit by bit. 

“I used to write daft poems during work in my first job. They were a pressure release because the intensity was off the scale at times. I just shared them with a close pal.

“I was aware that I could put sentences together in a decent order, but life and music got in the way and I never did anything more until I started a part-time degree course in Maynooth University. It was coupled with working a full time job. 

“It was intense but I really loved doing it. It was a real mind opener and of course, writing was a huge part of it. I wrote a BA thesis and then an MA thesis.

“Part of the BA was a summer writing module in Kilkenny. We were encouraged to write about ourselves, our lives and other things that affect us. I found I was mostly recalling lots of times from my earlier life in Mountmellick. I’ve never kept a diary so it was all coming from memory,” Ger explains. 

It was a big decision to write a book which he hopes will appeal to a wider audience.

“My generation is getting older now and I wanted to leave something that said I existed. My life in my hometown with my family, pals and community were great times and some not-so-great times. I just wanted to write about it for somewhat wider consumption,” he said.

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Ger has lived near Naas in Kildare since 1990. 

“Mountmellick is still home. It’ll never be any other way,” he said.

His hopes for his book are modest.

“I just hope there’s more people there than just my family, and that I’m not left with a stack of books that no one’s interested in. I’m a bit apprehensive. It’s not all sweetness and light. I’m content that it’s entirely true to me and my time there, so I’ll sleep easily either way.

“I’m self publishing and self financing so if I can cover my costs I’ll be extra happy with that. I’d like to have asked for something extra as I’d really love to make a contribution to Gaza relief and the disgrace of homelessness in Ireland. But people have more than enough pressures on their money now.

“I do hope that it will resonate in a wider way, beyond Mountmellick. Small-town Ireland and surely not just Ireland is and was full of characters and tales,” Ger Healion said.

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Ian Dempsey of Today FM gave the book On a Bog by the Land near a River a rave review.

“What a great read. I’ve just been to a place that I’ve never set foot in - all thanks to Ger - Mountmellick, beautifully and humorously described in this great book. It’s all so relatable - from making yourself fly like Harry Worth to getting your music career off to a start to worries about getting expelled from school. We’ve all been there!”

Ger will be launching and signing copies of his book in Mountmellick Library on Tuesday, September 30 at 7pm. All welcome.