Tipperary's Alice Leahy launches her memoirs in her home town of Fethard

There was a queue out the door as people arrived at the Abymill Theatre, Fethard for the launch of Alice Leahy’s memoir The Stars Are Our Only Warmth.

The stage was set – a midnight blue backdrop echoing the colour of the door into the Alice Leahy trust – a door open to all, with a special welcome for those Alice defines as different. 

The people of Fethard afforded the warmest of welcomes to this much esteemed daughter of Annsgift. It was in every sense a homecoming as old friends revisited former days with Alice and new admirers lined up to get their books signed.

The evening began with a brief recital by the very talented young local soprano Sinéad O’Donovan. She delighted the audience with a trio of songs: When she loved me, I don’t know how to love him and The Derry Air (Danny Boy). Following a summer performing in New York, Sinéad is now back studying music in Cork.

Jimmy O’Sullivan, MC for the evening, then invited Alice Leahy and her guests onto the stage. Catherine Cleary, who co-authored the book with Alice, explained that it was not in fact her first visit to Fethard. As food critic for the Irish Times she came to review Dooks restaurant in June 2018 and gave them a rave review calling it ‘a new star in the Irish Food firmament’.  

Formerly a crime reporter, Catherine originally met Alice twenty years ago when their paths crossed in the course of her work. Then, as now, she was impressed by Alice’s boundless energy and her fearlessness in tackling the problems facing her clients.

Working on the memoir obviously entailed spending lots of time with Alice. She told how they walked through city-centre Dublin together visiting food kitchens and hostels with Alice meeting and greeting people along the way.  It became apparent that Alice had created her own personal ‘village’ within the city, establishing a sense of connection that transcended all barriers. 

As she learned about Alice’s childhood in Annsgift and the strong women who influenced her, such as her mother Hannie and Mrs Olivia Hughes who established the Irish Country Markets in Fethard back in 1947, Catherine began to understand the source of Alice’s strength and resilience. She expressed her delight in bringing to completion the story of the little girl from Annsgift who grew up to be the voice of the marginalised. 

Brenda Boyne, Sales Manager, O'Brien Press thanked Jimmy O’Sullivan, Jasper Murphy and the Abymill team for organising the event so well and Fran Curry for  interviewing Alice. Michael O’Brien established O’Brien Press in 1974 while Alice Leahy set up Trust 1975 so it seemed most appropriate that they should publish the memoir. 

They were very privileged to work with Alice and Catherine on The Stars Are Our Only Warmth. This book is a social history as well as a wonderful insight into Alice’s childhood in Tipperary. “Alice has a very special way about her, a way of getting things done,” Brenda stated. She too told of travelling through Dublin city centre with Alice, this time to visit booksellers, and how along the way so many people just had to come over to say Hello. Needless to say, the booksellers also fell under her spell. They ended up, as one does, in the Palace bar (only a Tipperary pub would do for Alice) drinking ‘tea’ and putting the world to rights.

In the interview with Fran Curry, Tipp FM, Alice said surprisingly it was her first time in the Abymill Theatre but she recalled, with evident pride, reciting The Old Woman of the Roads by Pádraic Colum onstage in the Town Hall. 

The title of her memoir is taken from another poem, Last Night by Tony Gill, a homeless man who was well known to Alice, the final three lines of which are:

They pass by in their hundreds,Not knowing that the pavement is our pillow And the stars are our only warmth. 

Alice spoke eloquently with the accomplished ease of one who has spent a lifetime advocating her particular cause. Her message was clear and concise- there is no quick fix solution: the homeless problem will not be fixed in a year or two, if ever. But we can start now, today, showing kindness and compassion, suspending judgement, offering practical help.

Alice spoke too about her family and the values passed down to her by her parents; a strong work ethic and a belief that you were as good as the next. 

Fethard was a very special place, there was a sense of belonging and an acceptance within the community of those who were different. That acceptance is, she feels, sadly lacking in our society today.  Instead, we tend to focus on achieving success and judging everything on outcomes, ignoring the importance of the individual’s need for human contact.

On a positive note, Alice hopes that her book will show young people how far we have come, how much is possible. “Young people,” she stated, “are the future and Ireland is a wonderful country”.

Alice worked as a nurse and a midwife, volunteered with Simon in the slums in Benburb Street and then gave up her job to found Trust. It is not aligned to any political party or religious group and it doesn’t accept government money. The focus is on accepting people as they are and treating them as equal human beings. It’s not about trying to change people because, as Alice says, “You can’t change people unless they want to change”. These are the broken of our society, the fragile, the unwanted who could so easily disappear in plain view. Building relationships is what is important, in an accepting, non-judgemental way.

Alice has served as a Human Rights Commissioner and was Chairperson of the Sentence Review Group. She has received many awards in recognition of her lifetime commitment to working with the homeless including honorary fellowships form both the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, an honorary doctorate from University College Dublin and she was named Tipperary Person of the Year in 2004. However, Alice waves away acclaim, wearing her laurels lightly, with an obvious sense of humour that refuses to allow her to take herself too seriously. 

She was totally in earnest, however, when she stated that the political system has to change if it is to be effective. 

There is a great danger of becoming complacent or indifferent. She commended Alan Kelly, TD, who was in the audience, because he was the first minister to bring together everyone involved in working with the homeless. She believes similar initiatives are needed today to tackle the issue.  

All royalties from the book go directly to the Alice Leahy Trust. The Kindle edition of the book is now available for sale at Amazon.co.uk 

 (Mary Hanrahan)