Stroke victim steps out of the shadows

A FORMER Kerry football star, disabled by a stroke over five years ago, is about to add another hard-won trophy to his array of medals.

Pat Ahern, who lives in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, decided that he needed a new challenge and put pen to paper 10 months ago to write about growing up in The Kingdom. His book, Me and My Shadow will be launched next week.

Pat, aged 64, had just retired as a branch manager with Bank of Ireland in Rathkeale when he suffered a stroke in December 2000.

He now gets around in a golf buggy and his specially adapted car.

He said: “When I was in rehab, people told me I should start doing crosswords. Then some time ago a friend said why not a book. I still have the use of my right hand and I got the idea of writing about growing up in Kerry and my days in St Brendan’s College, Killarney.”

Early last year, Pat set off in his car each day to different locations where he found it easy to set out his thoughts on paper.

“I used to go down near Foynes and found it very easy to write while in the car looking out on the Shannon. I also drove up to Tournafulla a lot and parked in a spot which has a commanding view of West Limerick stretching into North Kerry.”

Pat was a sub on the Kerry side which won the 1962 All-Ireland senior final against Roscommon, captained the Kerry junior side to win an All-Ireland in 1967 and won a National League medal against Down in 1963.

When working on the book, Pat had his longhand manuscripts inputted to a computer and then onto disc which was sent to the printers.

His eldest daughter, Muireann, who is attached to the Department of Education, helped liaise with printers in Dublin and the 15,000-word paperback is due off the presses later this week.

Muireann recently got engaged to Cork-born actor, Louis Lovett, who plays the German character, Dieter, in the RTÉ comedy Killinaskully.

Pat, who also worked in bank branches in Killorglin, Listowel, Newcastle West and Ballybunion, said he has enjoyed the challenge.

“My wife, Mary, has encouraged me all the way and I am looking forward to meeting a lot of our old friends when we launch Me and My Shadow.”

Asked if he plans a second book, Pat said: “I’ll think of that over a pint.”