*Lauretta Callaghan O’Dea. Photograph: Natasha Barton
KILRUSH woman, Lauretta Callaghan O’Dea will launch her first book of poetry this weekend.
‘Never Give Up’ is the title of Lauretta’s debut poetry collection which will be launched on Saturday (July 26th) in Kilrush Public Library at 11am. Project coordinator with Bedford Row, Pat Talty will launch the book.
She has dedicated the book to her two sons, her daughter and grand-daughter “whom I love wholeheartedly. I hope that you too never give up on your dreams”. Her poems are based on everyday events and happenings.
Poetry has been a big help in her life, Lauretta admitted. “I left school at the early age of sixteen with no educational skills behind me. I’ve lived much of my life now and in recent years I started putting pen onto paper. I was only dabbling and it was then I began to enjoy what I was doing. To me poetry is therapy. It gave me a great sense of satisfaction and pride; it gave me purpose. I was inspired by the knowledge I carried within”.
Such was the joy poetry provided for Lauretta that in 2023 she started uplifting poetry sessions in Kilrush Library which on the first and second Tuesday of every month. She recalled, “I decided I would start up a poetry session in Kilrush library and the people within my group enjoy it immensely. Two years into the group, I thought go for it, do a poetry book and here I am, what a journey of discovery”.
She thanked Kilrush Youth Centre and KK Computing who “made my dreams possible”. She quoted Seamus Heaney’s line ‘if you have the words there’s always a chance that you’ll find the way’.
Some of her previous work has been published in The Clare Echo with ‘A Mother’s Heartache’ written following the final report from the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation.
