Mae Leonard’s new collection of Limerick stories

PROLIFIC writer Mae Leonard has published her latest collection of over 70 short stories, My Home is There 3, which reflects on how people can become ‘invisible’ as they grow older.

It was launched by Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan, on Sunday afternoon last in The Hunt Museum.

The publication by the Limerick native, who now resides in Kildare, was published by The Limerick Writers Centre and focuses on her many years in Limerick.

“The fact that no funding is available, through the Arts Department of Limerick Council, to support the publication of this book is lamentable,” she told the Limerick Leader.

“The LWC works so hard to encourage and support Limerick writers, yet it seems to be ignored by those who have the power to grant financial aid, for such a worthy operation,” she said.

The opening story of her new book involves coming to terms with reaching the age of seventy.

“It’s a tongue in cheek look at what happens when your hair is white and you are not very tall. You tend to get walked-into, become invisible and you need to develop an attitude.

“My love of history and travel is evident throughout the book, also, with the bulk of the material grounded in my years growing-up in Limerick, or at home, in Kildare. Readers may laugh at my tour of Kildare Town or my search in Prague, for the Child of Prague’,” she joked.

Her One Woman Show’, directed by playwright, Neil Donnelly, will be coming to Limerick, in November. Her first commercial writing success came about as a result of reading an Evening Press advert asking: Do You Have A Story To Tell?’ - she has gone on to win many awards, including the Gerard Manley Hopkins Poetry award.