Life’s great fears and loves

ENNIS resident and author Catriona Lowry has just released her debut work of fiction where she has captured life’s greatest fears and greatest loves.

The Blonde, The Buddha, The Claddagh, was a work in progress for a few years for the Galway native and essentially focuses on the symbols of the Claddagh ring – loyalty, love and friendship.
“I always wanted to be a writer. I remember as a child, putting letters in envelopes to people like Gay Byrne and to editors of newspapers, voicing my childhood arguments and concerns – however, I don’t think my parents ever posted any of them, thank God! The first article I wrote that got published was inspired by the gardaí, commemorating my grand-uncle, Henry Phelan, who was the first guard to be fatally shot in the country. He was one of the first guards to be enlisted when the gardaí were first established. His death was extremely tragic and was symbolic of what was happening in the country at the time. He was on duty, buying hurls to start a hurling team to raise the morale in the village where he was stationed, when he was shot. His story was truly inspiring and tragic; I wanted to tell it. After that, I was commissioned to write other articles for various publications,” Catríona explained. 
Her reasons for choosing to write this particular book were quite similar to her reasons for writing about her grand-uncle, she wanted to show how ordinary people’s lives can become extraordinary as a result of love, loyalty and friendship. The book also looks at how people can be negatively affected when love breaks down, when there is infidelity, or how people’s behaviour can have drastic consequences for those close to them.
“I guess the book is a reflection of life and all the ups and downs that makes up anybody’s life. As they say ‘it is not what happens to us in life that defines us, but how we react to it’. The book looks at people’s behaviour, both good and bad, and the outcome of that,” she outlined.
After an extremely difficult year personally Catríona said she wanted to ensure that something constructive and positive came out of the last few months.
“Finishing the book in the last 12 months gave me that. It’s quite bittersweet, as whilst I am so proud of the book, it will always serve to remind me of the year gone by,” she revealed.
When she started the book Catríona said she wanted to tell “a deeply human story” but she also wanted it to be accessible and consuming. She also wanted to build in some self-help into an entertaining work of fiction.
“One review said ‘it is more than chick-lit’ and I am grateful for that label. I would like it to appeal to men as well – however they might just need some help by a female in their life to get to grips with some of the ‘girly terminology’ in the book,” she added.
There was no one source of inspiration for the book. Catríona says inspiration from many places and from many people.  “My mother was a huge inspiration to me. She taught me that everything is possible and that dreams can come true. Her psychology and motherly love came in the form of one-liners like, ‘tomorrow is another day’ or ‘forgive and forget’. I feel her characteristics and endless ability to accept, forgive and to love inspired one of the main characters in the book.
“As I said, the Claddagh, its ring and the traditions of the Claddagh, were hugely inspirational. The younger characters in the book wish for the simple life that is represented by the old Claddagh in the book – one they find hard to attain in the modern world they exist in,” Catríona explained.
While the storyline is set against the backdrop of Galway City and Connemara, the book was mainly penned in Ennis, where Catríona has been living for the past eight years. Some of the chapters were written while drinking tea in Dromoland Castle, as it is very similar to Abbeyglen Castle in Connemara, which features prominently in the book. Others were composed overlooking the sea by Clare’s rugged coastline.
“Sometimes I had to leave my desk behind when I reached writers block. Clare reminds me a lot of Galway in terms of its coastal scenery and the landscape of the Burren is very similar to Connemara, in terms of colour and openness. The people have the same earthiness, I feel. They say it as it is,” she said.
At times, Catríona said she got so involved in the characters and what was happening to them that she didn’t want to think about anything else.
“I felt responsible for them. As an author, I am aware that there might be people who read this story and the story might mirror their own lives. I wanted to be mindful of that and be as honest and empathetic as was possible,” she concluded.
Catríona is already working on her second book and said Clare will form part of it.
The Blonde, The Buddha, The Claddagh is available from The Ennis Bookshop and for every copy sold in Clare during Christmas, €1 will go towards The Clare FM 50 Cent Appeal.