Mairéad overcomes condition to write Chicken

A FORMER Limerick special needs teacher hasn’t allowed her diagnosis of a debilitating neurological condition undermine her passion for education and writing, as she launched the publication of her new children’s book this week.

 

Mairéad Maguire from Corbally on the border of Clare and Limerick was forced to retire as a teacher at Scoil Íde in the city in 2009 when she was diagnosed with Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA), a very rare condition in which the nerve cells degenerate, causing restricted mobility and other complications.

She has written a children’s book in both English and Irish entitled Chicken. The proceeds from the English language books will be donated to the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland, while the proceeds from the Irish version, Sicín, will go to a community group, Comharchumman an Leith Truigh, in West Kerry.

Speaking to The Clare Champion, Mairéad said she is pleased to have fulfilled a long-held ambition to write a book for children.

“I finally got the opportunity to write the book when I retired. I have always loved the English language and the love which children have for reading books. I always hoped to write something like this and I am delighted that Emma Gileece, the daughter of a former colleague, has brought the book to life with some wonderful illustrations,” she said.

The book is beautifully illustrated with bright, vibrant images and is suitable for reading by seven to eight-year-olds but will also capture the imagination of adults and parents who enjoy telling their children a wonderful story.

Mairéad decided to donate proceeds to the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland, which represents approximately 8,000 people who are living with Parkinson’s disease, as MSA is very closely related to Parkinson’s.

The chief executive of the Parkinson’s Association, Keith Adams, said Mairéad’s work is an inspiration.

“Despite dealing with personal adversity, Mairéad’s new book has proved to be an inspiration to countless others with debilitating neurological conditions,” he said.

Chicken is available from www.parkinsons.ie, while Sicín is available from the Comharcumann in Brandon and on request.