Clara man releases new poetry book

A Clara native will launch his first poetry book this evening (Wednesday) in the local library.

There are 18 poems in total in the new poetry book, 'A Journey Through Poetry' by Raphael Fallon from Kilcoursey, which focuses on places that he has been, people he has met and his own life experiences. Raphael has been writing poetry for about 20 years and said that he has been “fond” of poetry all his life.

Speaking ahead of the launch which takes place this evening in Clara Library, Raphael said that he was a “bit nervous” about releasing the poetry as he wore his heart on his sleeve through writing about his own personal experiences.

“Each of my poems has two extra pages added, this is unusual in itself. One page is a narrative explaining the story or background to the poem. The other page has a photograph, all taken by my sister-in-law Trish Fallon. These three pages all interlink in to each other to form the book.”

Raphael enjoys visiting the pilgrimage site of Lourdes in southwestern France every year and wrote one of the poems about his time in Lourdes and the people he has met.

The project is geared towards raising funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) and he also hopes to raise awareness of the disease. All proceeds from the sale of the poetry book will directly go to the IMNDA.“The decision to go with IMNDA is that I have an extended family member who is carrying the burden of MND, as there are also several other young men in my town in a similar situation.”

Raphael enjoys the work of poets such as Wilfred Owen and John McCrae who wrote about World War One, and said that reading about experiences of the war had a lasting effect on him as his grandfather fought in France.

Raphael works as a school bus driver and retired from the Civil Defence a few years ago, working in Tullamore Fire Station.

Anyone who wishes to purchase a copy of Raphael's new poetry book can contact him on 087 1273869.