The Aughakillymaude Community Centre near Derrylin was the venue for the launch of the late Matt Duggan’s book of short stories called “And Matt Wrote Stories Too.”
It is now five years since his book of poetry called “From Mountain to Lough” was launched at the same location.
Like the previous occasion the lakeside venue was filled to capacity with people who were awaiting this publication.
Matt’s son, Gerry explained how he and Seamas MacCannaidh, who was editor for both books, that this was the right time to publish these stories as it was the centenary year of the writer’s birthdate which was 11th July 1914.
When Mr. MacCannaidh addressed the audience he said that the stories were a real treasure trove and would not just be enjoyed by the people of Co. Fermanagh and Ireland in general, but would find favour internationally through the publisher’s, originalwriting.ie online webshop and being available in ebook format worldwide.
He said that Matt Duggan was a real writer and that he had mastered the skill of short story writing perfectly.
The stories, he said, have been constructed perfectly in that he has built them up nicely to always reveal a surprise.
Gerry then called on Mary Byrne who had been a former pupil of the old school, which now houses the Community Centre, to launch “And Matt Wrote Stories Too.”
Mary reflected how mindfulness, which has become an ever more popular pursuit nowadays, is fully demonstrated in Matt Duggan’s stories in that the writer is ever present in the present.
Matt has achieved this through attention to detail.
As the reader you can see, hear, touch, taste and smell each scene.
In declaring the collection launched, she thanked Gerry and the Duggan family for holding onto and making these fantastic pieces available to everybody.