Nicholas Ryan-Purcell: Spreading the word on his experience of autism
Author and film-maker Nicholas Ryan Purcell.
The Words by Water literary festival brings authors and lovers of literature to venues in the southeastern Cork town of Kinsale (Sept 29 – Oct 3). A wide range of genres and life experiences are represented, including that of autism advocate Nicholas Ryan Purcell. He has followed his 2018 biographical documentary This is Nicholas with the recently-released Anything is Possible, a book expanding on his story, and the challenges faced by neurodivergent people in a neurotypical society.
“The reason I decided to write a book is because somebody suggested it to my family during the first lockdown in 2020," explains Ryan-Purcell, originally from Emly in Tipperary. "I'm definitely looking forward to coming down and discussing how the book has helped me relive some dark moments from my early life, learning and really understanding how people were there for me, how important it was that there was always a friend I could go to for a listening ear, and also the role that my Mom played in helping me overcome learning challenges.”
