Former Kerryman and now Kerry’s Eye journalist, Breda Joy has just received copies of her latest book into her hand.
The book, Eat the Moon has been described by Alice Taylor as ‘A blend of family, community and love of a horse paints a picture of an Ireland that could only be created by someone who knows her people.’
In the Book…..
In the book, Kieran O’Mahony rides away to the hunt on a powerful black horse, his mother is gripped by a sense of foreboding. He is a rising hurling star, with the world at his feet and one spirited local girl in his heart. His grandmother, however, has read a frightening premonition in the tea leaves.
Magic of the Moon Landing
Already several things out of the ordinary have occurred that summer. First, there is the arrival of Tamara, a young London cousin – minus her voice, which she lost following a traumatic event. Then, in the same week of July 1969, the family are caught up in the magic of the Apollo moon landing.
It’s a giant step for mankind indeed but doesn’t help Tamara to adjust to the already alien world of the Cork farm. Mute, she must cope with the unfamiliar idiom and way of seeing the world, while her cousin Sally resents the attention paid to her.
Lives Shattered
Then all their lives are shattered by a blind act of fate that threatens to tear the family asunder.
Like the Apollo astronauts, Kieran and his family begin a voyage away from the familiar. Their journey back from the dark side of the moon involves one exceptional moon-silver horse, the bonds of family, the wisdom of age and the passionate loyalty of youth.
About the Author
Breda Joy has published three books, Brian Crowley: Against the Odds, A Biography (Brandon Press, 1996); Hidden Kerry, The Keys to the Kingdom (Mercier Press, 2014), and The Wit & Wisdom of Kerry (Mercier Press, 2015).
She was one of 12 finalists in the Green Bean Novel Fair 2016 at the Irish Writers’ Centre.
Short Listed
She has been short listed for the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition (2011); long listed for the RTE Guide Penguin Ireland Short Story (2012); a winner in the inaugural, Trócaire/Poetry Ireland Award (2012), and a winner in the Kerry County County Council One Act Play Competition (2005).
A graduate of the M. Phil. in Creative Writing Programme (2010/2011) at Trinity College Dublin, she has had poetry published in literary journals including The Stony Thursday Book, Icarus and the Cork Literary Review.
Deep Hearts Core
Her poetry appeared most recently in The Deep Heart’s Core: Irish Poets Revisit A Touchstone Poem (Dedalus, 2017).
A winner in the ESB National Media Awards (1997), she has worked as a regional journalist with Kerry’s Eye and The Kerryman newspapers in her native Killarney, as well as serving a stint with the Leader Group in Melbourne.
She is a regular contributor to Radio Kerry and features on RTE Radio and television occasionally.
Launch and Signing
Breda will hold a launch / signing session of her book at Easons in Killarney, on Saturday, September 8th from 12noon.
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