Colm Murray launches "Childhood Memories of Moate"

The much anticipated launch of "Childhood Memories of Moate in the 1940"s" took place in the Grand Hotel on Tuesday night last week. Young and old came from far and wide to support this launch, a compliment to Kieran Gavin and a reflection of the respect people have for this gentle-man. Wit and laughter were the themes for the night as compere for the evening Andrew Gillivan brought his usual contrite and reverential tone to the proceedings (I always wanted to write fiction!). Andy kept things moving along and introduced the guests to the audience. Colm Murray, the much-travelled RTE broadcaster, was hardly back in Ireland from his long sojourn in China where he was covering the Olympic Games and the Paralympics when the call came to head to Moate. A native of Church Street and a former neighbour of Kieran Gavin, Colm relayed stories of his youth and the characters that had influenced him. The same characters are mentioned in Kieran"s book. Colm described some of "the Ma"s" in his own unique manner and had the audience in convulsions, even those who did not know the characters he was referring to. Marie Allen spoke on behalf of the Moate Social Services and provided an insight into the work done by Social Srvices in the locality. Moate Social Services will receive all the profits from the sale of the book. Finally Kieran himself addressed the gathering, thanking all those who came to the launch. Kieran thanked all those who had helped him to put the book together, Dolores who helped to type up the script, the wonderful people in Temple Publishing - Cathal, Paul and Cathy; John Joe Claffey and the staff in the hotel for their help and his own extended family, particularly his wife Peggy, for all the support and encouragement he had received. The book is for sale in the local newsagents and other retail outlets in the town. The book is a recommended read for all with an interest in social history or just a curiosity about the changes in our town since the forties.