By Eoin Meegan
Photos by Ian Davis
Friday 7th of March last saw the launch of Ruth O Leary’s second book, A Week to Remember, to a very enthusiastic gathering of book lovers and literary buffs alike in Eason’s on Stephen’s Green. Comedian Val Troy did the honours of launching A Week to Remember, the follow up to Ruth’s very successful debut, The Weekend Break, which spent a considerable time in the Irish bestsellers. Ruth, whose parents hail from Bath Avenue, always had the writing bug. Her second novel, with its beautiful cover by David Prendergast, brings us on a journey, an actual one, as three women take on the challenge of Camino de Santiago, mirrored by an inner one of discovery.
The three ladies are: Paula, who is experiencing anxiety attacks as she approaches 60, she sees her friends happily embracing retirement but she wants excitement in her life; Rachel, who is trying to figure out her life after being betrayed by her partner and potential business interest; and Cathy, whose world is turned upside down by a life-altering event.
These three courageous women set out on personal journeys of healing and redemption, and although strangers when they assemble at Dublin airport, their paths are destined to intertwine on the 100 + Km trek towards Santiago (see review pg. 14).
Ruth, herself a walker, told me that when she started writing this book walking the Camino was the last thing on her mind. Her initial intention was that the three women would meet in a spa in Greece. A meticulous researcher, Ruth was looking forward to a nice relaxing few days in Santorini or some such place, for research purposes, of course! However, as it is with many good authors, their characters have a way of choosing their own destiny, and she wasn’t long into writing A Week to Remember before they ‘told’ her they were not going to a spa, instead they were going on a walk, a very long one! And so the dye was cast! However, dauntless as she is, Ruth decided she would do the Camino, from Sarria to Santiago, which she completed in May 2024. Overall she found it a very rewarding experience as anyone who’s done this walk (this writer included) can attest to. A great launch, and no doubt A Week to Remember will be as successful as Ruth’s first book.
