Ballinagar's Brendan entertains with tales from home and abroad

Ballinagar author Brendan Brophy has produced another book and this latest work takes a close look at how his native village has had a massive impact on shaping his life.

For those who know Brendan, the titles of his previous books, 'On Three Wheels' (1997) and 'Playing a Bad Hand' (2010) gave a good hint as to the ground they would cover.

They lay out the challenges of living with a disability - Brendan has cerebral palsy - especially when the country was less accommodating than it is today. Services and supports in the Ireland of the 1960s, '70s and' 80s weren't what they should have been.

But the books are also a celebration of what can be achieved when someone pushes past what others would see as constraints. Brendan lives a full life and revels in the chances he's been given to broaden his horizons.

These books are self-published, which is a mark of the type of person Brendan is. He had an idea with his first book and wanted to see it through himself, so he went about getting it into print on his own steam. And it was the same with this project too.

His latest book, entitled 'Man of the Village', provides readers with his observations on his own life in Ballinagar in Co. Offaly and of those in the community around him. It's an acknowledgement of the village of Ballinagar and how it shaped who he is.

It deals with the demands of his condition but there is also plenty of humour as he recalls his interactions with family, neighbours and service providers. It also goes beyond the village and recounts trips well beyond the confines of Ballinagar. Brendan loves to travel and his trips usually involve high drama and adventure.

His latest book includes such tales as being on board an out-of-control mobility scooter that rammed into a golfing party in Portugal; winning ten thousand on a freak Cheltenham bet; and having a bizarre encounter with a relative of legendary soccer manager Brian Clough.

Brendan's far from mundane stories describe his adventures at home and beyond the confines of his native village of Ballinagar. Full of wit and wisdom and told with a generous helping of mischief, Brendan will entertain readers with tales which prove he won't be held back and that he loves to grab your attention with a good yarn.

Brendan launched 'Man of the Village' last month in his local pub in Ballinagar, Tom and Gerry's, with another local author the special guest for the occasion. He invited Geraldine O'Neill from Daingean to be his guest speaker. Geraldine is a prolific writer of historical fiction and has novels published internationally. On the night, Geraldine spoke about Brendan's humour, courage and determination that comes through in his latest book.

'Man of the Village', Brendan Brophy's third book, is on sale widely.