2025: The journey of a legal activist, writer & author

It's been a roller-coaster year, for a legal activist and author and all the right reasons!

At the beginning of 2025, I was in the final throes of completing the development and copy edits of 'A Magdalene Rose' and finalising the design of the book and its front cover and dust-jacket. I was fortunate because I was working with professionals who guided my hand throughout the process.

But by late April, the first print-run of my book arrived and the work to complete the May global book launch in Monmouth, South Wales (in the historic Rolls Hall Library), was coming to fruition. This was followed by working to expand the book's reach through International Distributors. A quick trip to Ireland at the beginning of June laid the ground for the Irish Book Launches in September, along with a second print-run!

Come September, we were on-the-road across to Ireland, the first event being in Portumna in County Galway, in the newly restored Courthouse (a location that is central to the story of 'A Magdalene Rose'). This was followed by Glenamaddy, also in County Galway in 'Jim-Pete's Pub', another key location in the story. We ended back in Dublin at the Club na Múinteoirí (the Teachers Club), to bring 'A Magdalene Rose' into the heart of the City and the City of her suffering. Within weeks, I was up to Belfast to introduce 'A Magdalene Rose' to Northern Irish audiences and planning the next stage, a reading tour. In between all of this activity, I have prepared both the paperback and eBook for 'A Magdalene Rose' and these editions are now appearing across the world (UK, Ireland, France, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand). There is still a great deal more to do to introduce readers across this world to four remarkable people.

Whilst I have my work and plans laid out for 2026, I absolutely want to thank the many people who attended my book launches. In many ways I was overwhelmed by the numbers but also of the interest in the book. It was clear to me whilst presenting the book that many people were emotionally affected by the stories I was reading, but as I discovered, many had been directly affected (some only revealing their secrets to me for the first time), of their own Magdalene or other Institutional experiences. In September and into October, I answered over 450 questions and queries surrounding the book, such was the interest; even today, those questions continue.

The book was created not only to tell four stories, but also to support my activism in Ireland to bring justice to the those made invisible by a political process. I have already started the latest campaign through the European Parliament and look forward to introducing my initiative to the Oireachtas in 2026.

But all of this activity has surprised me with the volume of sales I have achieved; they have far outstripped my expectations and I suppose this is part of the joy of being a published author.

On my journey this year, many people asked me if I was proud of what I had achieved. They must have wondered when I didn't gush with pride, but as I explained to them, I hadn't had the time to think about it. But despite all the activity in recent months, I have had time to reflect, to read of personal revelations, to think about four remarkable people, to look at the final product. I feel energised. I feel pride. I feel love for four people. I feel love for all the people who have interacted with me and particularly for all those who have bought the book. I feel and see the path of justice before me.

2026 is going to be interesting I think!