Offaly author pens uplifting tale of friendship and self-belief for young people

AN uplifting tale of friendship written by an Offaly based author has been published after a 15-year wait.

Pat Sangster penned his tale centred around the adventures of a young duck 15 years ago but it was only published late last year when his daughter took the initiative.

When he finished writing the adventure story back in the noughties, Pat approached a number of publishers without success and then forgot about the manuscript until it was resurrected by his daughter.

The publication - entitled "The Adventures of Wingless" – tells the story of a young duck called Gerry, who is living a blissful existence on Cherry Tree Farm.

But Gerry finds his world turned upside down when he is attacked by a dog and loses a wing. Nothing will ever be the same again and he is forced to confront his deepest fears and adapt to a life he never imagined.

With the help of unlikely friends and his unwavering determination, Gerry embarks on a heart-warming journey of resilience and self-discovery, proving that true strength comes from within.

The uplifting tale celebrates the power of friendship, perseverance and the belief that our challenges can become our greatest strengths.

"It's a touching reminder that heroes come in all shapes and sizes," pointed out Pat.

He said that the central character in his book feels inadequate because of his disability but manages to overcome his fears through determination and courage.

When he first re-read the manuscript after the time lapse of 15 years, Pat felt it was a timely tale for young people who have grown up with social media.

"A lot of young people feel they are not as good as everyone else because of social media pressures," he pointed out.

"They feel that people look on them as second class and then tend to retreat back into themselves."

Originally from England, Pat is living in Ireland for the past 26 years. He is married to Teresa Galvin, of the famous Galvin menswear retail family.

Living in the Tullamore area, Pat is now embedded in the community and is involved in voluntary work with Tullamore Meals on Wheels.

"The Adventures of Wingless" is available in Midland Books, High St, Tullamore, priced at €14.95, and also from Amazon and Google Books online.