Under Connemara Skies Towards Light

Under Connemara Skies  Towards Light is a book of poems and photographs, inspired by and dedicated to Éamonn Goggin who became an organ donor following a car crash in 2006. The book, written by Éamonn's mother, Martina, explores and expresses her emotions and feelings as she struggled to cope with the overwhelming sense of sadness and loss following his tragic death.

RTE broadcaster, Mary Kennedy, in the introduction to the book wrote:  "Under Connemara Skies  Towards Light is visually and verbally moving and stunningly beautiful...and can be shared now with others, to afford comfort, courage and hope to those who grieve.  The poems are deeply personal, achingly honest, full of love and devotion.  For me the defining feature of this collection of photographs and poems is the feeling of hope, which, with the passage of time, is beginning to coexist alongside the feeling of loss, as Martina, in memory of Éamonn, moves towards light and the future".

The proceeds of the sale of this book will help with the creation of Circle of Life National Garden of Commemoration and Thanksgiving which is being planned by Strange Boat Donor Foundation for Salthill Park, Galway. (Further details of the garden on this website, under Circle of Life)

Mary Kennedy speaking at the launch of Under Connemara Skies Towards Light during the Clifden Arts Festival on Sunday, 18th September, 2011 at the Alcock & Brown Hotel.                                                       

A special event to promote the book was held in the Arklow Visual Arts Centre hosted by Tracy Piggott on Friday, 18th November, 2011. This event was organised by David Murray and Donal Power, and was attended by the Mayor of Arklow, Vincent McElheron, representatives from the world of organ donation and transplantation, and local people from Arklow.

Pictured at the Arklow launch:  Martina Goggin; Phyllis Cunningham, Senior Transplant Coordinator at Beaumont Hospital; Tony Gartland, liver transplant recipient and a member of Transplant Team Ireland and broadcaster, Tracy Piggott.

 Martina,Vincent McElheron, Mayor of Arklow and Tracy.

Martina; Lorraine Costello from the Irish Kidney Association;  Philip Kavanagh, liver transplant recipient and a member of Transplant Team Ireland chatting with Tracy.

Copies of the book may be ordered through this website - info@strangeboat.org

Cost per copy (including postage within Ireland) -  €15

Under Connemara Skies  Towards Light is also available in selected bookstores nationwide.