Angela McCabe launches her memoir in Ballinamore
When she discovered Ballinamore, she knew immediately, this is where she wanted to live. She believed she had entered another world. An ‘Old World’ of song and dance music, poetry and painting, of friendly people living in harmony and peace. Whilst running The Natural Healing Centre Ballinamore she went dancing four nights a week. She has particularly fond memories of The Mooney School of Music Drumshanbo, The Mucky Duck Ballymagovern and The Koniki Ballroom on Water, Rooskey. She found creativity in abundance in Leitrim. Angela comes from a visual art background BA (Hons) in Fine Art with an MA in Art therapy. The Moo Wine Bar opened beside Pat Joes in the Main Street Ballinamore. Here, there were salsa dance classes, concerts and poetry. She joined the Slaibh an Iareann drama group and made an award winning short movie. The Cultural Quarters opened in the Old Barracks Ballinamore, with more music and dance and bands from all over Ireland. Poetry for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, thanks to Tracy Murray.
Sadly, the Crash came and Angela’s friends and family fled to the cities, for work. But she was able to carry on The Shannon Erne Writers Group, originally established by Michael Harding. ‘Michael got famous’ says Angela ‘And he moved on too! But I stayed put and did not abandon My Lovely Leitrim and kept a cross-border reading club going too.’ Angela’s father died suddenly in 1996 and a year before that her husband had died. Although this was a sad time, she was able to bring her mother to Ballinamore and care for her for 15 years, till her peaceful death at 95. Angela had already adopted a Tibetan girl who was married and her first son was born. She also had volunteer workers and stragglers who were moving house. ‘Sometimes there was nowhere for me to sleep so I just crashed in the consulting room,’ says Angela with a hearty laugh. ‘My mother was very happy in Leitrim and loved the craic. With Monica McFarland on one side of us and John Green on the other, it was a laugh a minute’ Angela winks. There are some hilarious scenes in the book with Angela’s mother Peg and the neighbours in Ballinamore.
Tragedy struck again in 2013, when Akong Rinpoche, lifelong friend to Panchen La was murdered in China. Angela had been visiting Akong and The Scotland Centre a few times a year. She found her way out of the grief again, revamped an old house in Leitrim and dedicated it to a Tibetan Charity. Angela will read from The Memoir and sign copies at the Launch in Ballinamore and on Tue 29th November. She will do a book tour. She is also doing Zoom launches 28th and 30th Nov. For Zoom links email: [email protected]