No Way to Say Goodbye (36 page)

To my friends from Kenmare: Leonie K, we laughed, we cried, people died, we survived and through it all I love you; Dermot K, I love you, your wife and your kids; Cliff M, you’re the only person in the whole world I would watch a gardening show with; Gareth T, you get me on a whole different level; Mark L, thank you for being the first person to tell me a joke after Mum died – I’ll love you for ever for that; Nina B, for being one of the kindest and best people I’ve ever known; Bernice and Rosita, the C twins, for our friendship through all those years.

To the buyers and sellers in Easons, Hughes and Hughes, Dubray and Tesco: your support has been overwhelming and much appreciated, thank you, thank you, thank you.

To Paula Campbell, Poolbeg’s publisher – you have the hardest job of all. You find talent where others don’t. Without you many of the writers in this country wouldn’t have been heard of. Thank you.

To all at Penguin in Ireland and the UK: Michael O’Loughlin, Patricia Deevy. Thank you.

To my agent Faith O’Grady, I’m scattered and you’re coping, to you and all at Lisa Richards, thank you.

And finally to the people of Kenmare, thank you.