Journeys of work, war and compassion captured in Limerick memoir

WEST Limerick native Denny Mulvihill – retired fitter turned undertaker, charity cyclist and lifelong adventurer – has officially launched his debut memoir The Bike, The Bog & The Graveyard.

Denny's memoir was launched by writer and former Irish Independent columnist Billy Keane, author of titles including The Very Best of Billy Keane and The Ballad of Mo and G.

The launch event held in the Con Colbert Memorial Hall, Athea was very well-attended, with one witty observer noting that most of the village of Athea and its surrounding hinterland had turned out for a book written by a local man who had done extraordinary things.

Speaking on the night, Mr Keane praised Denny and his wife Mary Theresa for their outstanding work for charities over the years, highlighting the significant funds they have raised for worthy causes.

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Denny, born in Shanagolden in 1945, grew up in a rural Ireland where hardships were frequent and opportunities limited. Those early experiences shaped the humour and grit that thread through his memoir.

After an apprenticeship as a mechanic, he built a career as a heavy-duty plant fitter with companies such as Cunnane’s Forklifts in Foynes and Floyd Engineering, before moving to London. His working life carried him far beyond Ireland.

In Nigeria with Amey Roadstone Construction, he experienced danger, conflict and moments of surreal adventure – stories vividly retold in the book. Later, in Saudi Arabia with Global Suhaimi, he encountered the strict rule of the Mutawa.

In recent years, Denny joined his wife in the family business, Kelly’s Undertakers, where he found a calling rooted in compassion.

Well known across Limerick for his charity cycles – from completing the Mizen-to-Malin route eight times to cycling from Athea to Dublin and back, he has raised vital funds for the Aislinn Addiction Centre in Kilkenny and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.

The book is now available in local retailers in Athea, as well as online via www.buythebook.ie