The extraordinary landscape of my home, the unique and hearty character of its people, and their sharp wit have always been my greatest inspirations. In a simpler time, before mobile transactions silenced the jingle of coins, and digital screens turned heartfelt conversations into mere clicks, Erris was a masterclass in the fine art of living and speaking. I've always loved this place and its people deeply, and through my stories, I strive to keep that vibrant, genuine life alive with laughter, always laughter.

In writing, I seek not only to preserve the legacy of my beloved Erris, but also to extend a heartfelt invitation to the descendants of those who left these emerald shores for new horizons. My book serves as a window into the life and times their ancestors left behind—a vibrant, living link to a rich and storied past. From the United States to distant corners of the world, many have ancestors who once called this rugged coast home, people for whom Ireland was both a nurturing mother and a harsh taskmaster.

I weave these tales with the hope of rekindling a connection, and with the dream that someday, these sons and daughters of the Irish diaspora will return to visit the shores their forebears once knew so well. In every word, I extend an open invitation: come, explore, remember, and reconnect. My crowning piece, "Arse to the Wind," is my love letter to that world and to all who lived on the west coast of Ireland from Inishowen to Castletownbere.

It’s more than a story; it’s my legacy and my hope for a sort of immortality. As Shakespeare so aptly put it, "So long lives this, and this gives life to thee." Today, I still call Erris home, with the wild Atlantic forever at my back, and I continue to write stories that invite you to join me in a hearty laugh and a deep connection to this special corner of the world.