More Than Skin Deep

About the Book

This book tells the story and challenge of living with severe disability, my terrible experience living in institutions, my struggle in seeking adequate services, training and employment, but it also tells about my relationships with women, my fun and joy, and my many activities as life must go on.

About the Author

I was born in County Mayo in the West of Ireland in 1964. I was educated at Killwalla National School and Westport Vocational School, both were near where I lived. I hated shool and loved farming and rural life. After leaving school at the age of 16, I worked on our family farm for 4 years. Then I was involved in a horrific car crash which meant I had to rebuild my life and find a new career while farming was no longer possible. This led me to study computers and freelance journalism as well as disability issues and peer counselling. I successfully obtained a City Guilds Certification in Computers and a Kilroy's College Certification in Freelance Journalism. After than I gained employment with the Mayo Centre for Independent Living who deliver services to people with disability. I have worked with them for the past nine years. I have also done journalistic work with the Irish Music Rights Organisation and the Western People newspaper. After my accident I started doing creative writing. As a result I have had short stories and poetry published. I have won the Leonard Cheshire Foundation Award twice for my writing.