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Limerick man Pat McLoughlin launches his debut novel

Pat McLoughlin pictured above (far right) with Mayor Michael Collins and Dominic Taylor, Limerick Writers Centre. 

Limerick man Pat McLoughlin launches his debut novel

 

By I Love Limerick correspondent Mary Caroline McCarthy


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Pat McLoughlin

This novel follows the story of a diverse collection of Irish emigrants who come together in 1950’s London.

 

Newcastle West writer Pat McLoughlin has launched his debut novel.

 

Pat McLoughlin, a long-running notes correspondent for the Limerick Leader has teamed up with the Limerick Writers Centre to bring out his maiden novel entitled ‘The Canary in the Mine’. Although born in Newport, Co Tipperary, Pat has lived in Newcastle West for almost fifty years.

 

Pat intermittently attends creative writing courses through the University of Limerick and the Limerick Writers’ Centre. He is also a keen member of the Desmond Scribblers Writing Group in Newcastle West.

 

The Limerick Writers Centre was founded as a non-profit organisation established in 2008 to support and promote writers from or living in Limerick by hosting readings, workshops, and publishing activities. It is run by a voluntary board of directors.

 

While this is Pat’s first novel, it is not his first book. He has written two collections of short stories, ‘To Weave with Words’ and ‘From Head to Tale’, these two collections proved very popular and were sold out within weeks of publication.

 

Pat held his launch ceremony in Newcastle West on Friday, October 16. At his launch, Pat thanked Dr Paddy Fullam and all the people who gave their time and expertise so generously in the production of the novel.

 

In previous years, Pat’s book launches would have been attended by hundreds of people, this one, however, due to Covid-19 restrictions, took place outdoors and as such, was only attended by a small number of fans. Mayor, Michael Collins was one of the few people to attend the launch of the novel.

 

This novel follows the story of a diverse collection of Irish emigrants who come together in 1950’s London. Some are there out of economic necessity, while others are there to escape from the claustrophobic society that was Ireland.

 

Like Pat’s previous two books, the proceeds from Pat’s novel will go to local charities.

You can buy Pat’s book at Tony Hayes’s (Daybreak), The Square, Newcastle West; Ann Lyon’s Shop, Abbeyfeale; O Gairbhi Newsagents and Post Office, Rathkeale; Gully’s (Daybreak), Newport, Co Tipperary and O’Mahony’s Bookstore, Limerick city.

 

You can also buy ‘The Canary in the Mine’ HERE

 

For more works by Pat McLoughlin, click HERE

 

For more stories on Limerick authors, click HERE

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.