'I think the book is different,' Tipperary man pens poetry book on everyday life and social justice

Community activist Gerry Coffey is to launch his first book, Aspects of a Life, this Saturday in Nenagh Library.

Aspects of a Life is a book full of poetry and photos exploring relationships, social justice and ‘snippets’ of a life well lived.

Gerry spoke to the Tipperary Star about the process of writing the book and what he hopes people will find in its pages.

“It really is about aspects of life and that people can see it and identify with it and draw off it and feel like you can a story with poetry as well as you can with a short story or short piece of prose,” said Gerry.

LIKE A SPIDER WEB

Gerry told us that he did not set out to write a book but was asked by someone who enjoyed his poetry.

He worked with a publisher, Scotus Press, over the course of a year to write and compile poetry about culture, society and the people he meets in the course of his everyday life.

“I’d constantly be ruminating on bits and pieces like you know when you bump into people or meet people and the impressions or marks they make on your life”

“They don’t escape, a bit like getting caught in a spider web, and you decide you will write a little bit about them.”

Nenagh author Donal Ryan wrote the introduction for Aspects of a Life, and Gerry said he is grateful. He said that one does not succeed on their own and his work is a team effort.

“Take this book. I could not have done this book on my own. Take the physical book. I write the book, then there is someone to lay out the book. Then there is the person who does the spell check and all that jazz.

“ Then there's the people who print it, so that's three. “But then there are characters in the book. Gerry Coffeys name is on the book, but then there are a whole lot of other people in the book. So, the book is a community you pull together,” said Gerry.

CLASS MATTERS

Gerry is originally from Dublin, born in Dun Laoghaire and grew up in Clondalkin.

He lives with chronic migraines and is passionate about social justice. Gerry describes himself as working-class and says it is important for people like him to be heard.

“A lot of books written are from a middle-class perspective. This book does not come from a middle-class perspective.

“I am not a middle-class person.”

“I think it's very important that people understand that working class voices are not heard. There is lip service to people with visible and invisible disabilities.

He said people need support to help them find and use their voices but as they get stronger, they will be able to do more.

“I honestly believe that you know you can be strong on your own but you can be stronger together,” said Gerry.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Gerry is a passionate community activist having worked on lots of local projects, including the community garden in Nenagh.

Through his poetry he writes about social change through empathy.

He explained that a piece from the book called Judge Not is his reaction to a court report he read in a newspaper. The defendant’s disability was commented on by the judge, who felt disability allowance was a waste of money in relation to the individual.

Gerry said this got him ‘riled up’ because he feels people should be judged for their actions, not assumptions about their character based on things they cannot control.

“I could empathise with the individual because I think he was being judged very harshly by the judge, and other stuff was brought in,” said Gerry.

LAUNCH

Gerry hopes that when people read his book, they will see that poetry is for them. His work, he said, is about the everyday.

“We see that people are reading poetry and they are reading prose, which is great, and it's great to see more people writing.”

“People can read this book and learn things. There is a need for more honesty around mental health and things like that.

“So, I think the book is different, “ said Gerry.

Gerry is launching his book on Saturday, November 25, at Nenagh Library between 2:30pm to 4pm.