PADDY McMenamin’s new book, ‘Armed Struggle to Academia’ which was published in March has now gone into a second print.
To recognise its outstanding success, a book signing has been arranged for Friday afternoon in Letterkenny Shopping Centre, between 2pm and 4pm.
Later in the evening there will be a Book Launch at ‘Mary Macs’ bar in Kilmacrennan between 8 and 9pm followed by music in the lounge.
Local Councillor John O’Donnell will speak at the event.
Originally from the Turf Lodge area of West Belfast, Paddy left school at 15 and within a couple of weeks had joined the Provisional IRA.
By the time Paddy settled in Termon he had already spent one quarter of his young life in jail.
Friday’s events bring to an end nine months of intense promotion of the book which is available in over 100 bookstores from Donegal to Kerry, Belfast to Cavan; Galway to Kilkenny, Glasgow and Dublin, and online on ‘Amazon Books’ in hardback, paperback and eBook, also available on Kindle.
The book reflected on life growing up in conflict in Belfast in the 60s and 70s. Speaking this week, Paddy said it was difficult to put down on paper words that some might have felt horror and disdain for events at the time.
“I was fully aware of that and understood the misgivings but it was a story needing telling. As in the case of Aiden McAnespie last week the truth of what really happened needs to come out, my book tried to tell the story of ordinary working class youths caught up in conflict in an Irish city 50 years ago. The story was also book ended by returning to University at 50 and becoming a secondary teacher showing that life can be turned around, ‘Armed Struggle to Academia’ is a story of life,” he said.
Paddy’s time in the IRA, to working in a car factory in Letterkenny, being a student, then teacher, and now published author, is all chronicled in the book.
Paddy (69) is now based in Galway, and has been living in Oranmore with his partner Mary since 2005.
His three children Paddy (jnr), Ciara and Kevin and their families all now live in Termon, close to the birthplace of his late mother Annie Russell who was from Dooen.
This is his third book and comes after ‘Walking through a story of life’ and ‘Political Status – Long Kesh: 1971-1976’.
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