New book on Martin McGuinness to be launched in Roscrea

A new book on Martin McGuinness will be launched by the author, Jim ‘Flash’ McVeigh in Abbey Hall, Abbey Street, Roscrea, 7.30pm on Friday 21st November.

The event will be chaired by former Sinn Féin TD, Martin Browne and is everyone is welcome to attend.

'Our Martin' features 150 black and white photos from Martin McGuinness' life, many not seen before.

Written with the co-operation of Martin's family and many of his closest friends and comrades, the book gives a deeper insight into the man himself, his early IRA activities, his family life and his role in the peace process.

Jim, who served two terms of imprisonment during the conflict, recalled his first meeting with Martin.

“I first met Martin in the H-Blocks during the early stages of the peace process”, he said.

“Martin and a couple of the other Sinn Féin leadership were allowed into the prison in around 1997 and were allowed into the H-Blocks.

“They went to Maghaberry to brief the women prisoners, and then they came to the H-Blocks to brief us on the on the developing peace process at the time.

“Then, of course, when I got out, I became involved in Sinn Féin and got to know him better then.

“He was a very warm individual, very down to earth. He was a listener. He had that sort of natural charm about him. He liked people.

“He liked to talk to people. There are some people who worked with him who said he liked to talk to people too much and no matter where they went, if someone wanted to speak to him, he took the time, found the time to chat with them but that was the type of character he was”, Mr McVeigh said ahead of the Roscrea launch.

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The idea of a more intimate and personal account of Martin's life was the desire of his wife Bernie, and Jim said he was honoured to have been given the task.

“Martin's wife Bernie suggested that she would love to have seen a more intimate, personal book about Martin”, the author of the new book concluded.