Derry woman recently released her debut novel, ‘A Riot in Murphy’s Pub’

A Derry woman recently released her debut novel, ‘A Riot in Murphy’s Pub’. 

Irene Melaugh has dreamt about this moment ever since she was a child growing up in the Brandywell. 

And now, at the age of 78, her lifelong goal has been realised, one she thought may not come true following her decision to leave school at the age of 14. 

She said: “I really wanted to have an education, but I couldn’t do it because my family needed me to help them, so I went to work, but I always felt that I missed out.

“I’m really excited about it. I always wanted to be a writer when I was very young, but I thought for a long time that you needed to have a degree to be a writer.

“Never give up. If you really feel that you want to do something and the feeling doesn’t go away, then you need to listen to yourself.

“I always thought it would be too hard to write a book and that I couldn’t do it, but it turns out it was very easy.”

Mrs. Melaugh’s story should be one that inspires those who have yet to achieve their childhood dream that it is always possible. 

She would move into theatre as a playwright in her 50s, having raised her four children, and this book is loosely based on one of her plays, ‘A Whole Handling’ and from her experiences in life. 

The author said: “Although at the time when I really wanted that education when I was frustrated, I now realise it all made me what I am.

“Everything informs you—all the characters you meet—and I’ve met a lot, believe me.

“The characters in my book are out of my head, but in saying that everyone of them has characteristics of people that I have met in my life. Some people were workaholics, others ladies of the night, and it is all in the book.”

The book is a dark comedy, a perfect encapsulation of Irish humour, sarcasm, and wit.

With the story being one that is quintessentially Irish. 

Mrs. Melaugh said: “It is about a man who goes home late from the pub once again, and his wife murders him because she can’t handle it anymore. 

“She is a long-suffering wife, and she is put in jail straight away, but they have no family, so there is nobody to provide a wake for him. 

“His drinking partners were outraged that he was not going to have an Irish wake. The body was lying in state in the cathedral, so they decided to have a party to celebrate his life. The group had a great night, but the next day the police visited the pub, wanting to find out who stole the body from the chapel.

“But as this is happening, there are a number of subplots throughout.”

Pegasus, the publishers of the book, have commissioned a further two novels from Mrs. Melaugh as they look to further share her experiences. 

With a screenplay already written for ‘A Riot in Murphy’s Pub', there is a chance that soon people could be watching on their TV screens. 

The book is currently available through Amazon and WHSmith by online purchase.