Published: Wednesday, 23rd July, 2008 12:00pm

Lord of the Rams

Ever meet somebody and think, "that guy"s mad in the head"? Well, many people have thought that on meeting the Rams for the first time, and maybe they were correct to some degree.

His mother always attributed his unique personality to the time his oldest sister, Vanessa, pushed him down a flight of stairs when he was just two years of age. On closer examination, however, he appeared to be no different to the many colourful people who surrounded him in the tiny parish of Munterconnaught.

That is the opening paragraph of a side-splitting new book by 30-year-old Munterconnaught man, Ronan Smith (being launched in Dublin tomorrow night). While the book is largely Ronan"s own autobiography, it is also gives an insightful and hilarious account into life in rural Ireland over the 25 years from the late 70s to the noughties.

It could be the story and adventures of any cheeky, 20-something chappie growing up in the sticks.

Speaking to Plus, Ronan admits that many people think he has notions of himself for writing an autobiography based on 25 years in the life of a young webmaster and editor. While agreeing it was to some extent self-indulgent, Ronan said he wrote the book in the third person and the tales were as much about his friends as just himself.

'Well, they say you should always write about things you know. And if there"s one thing I know about, it"s my own life,' he said.

'I think the book industry has, in some respects, been taken over with chick-lit and biographies about people who have enjoyed five minutes of fame and done little else.

'While I"m not claiming Lord of the Rams is going to save the industry or change the world, I think it will appeal to a market that is currently neglected to some extent - that is young adult males,' says Ronan.

'Sure it"s an autobiography about an ordinary man but it doesn"t take itself too seriously. Lord of the Rams is primarily a tongue-in-cheek look at growing up in Ireland, and I believe that it will appeal not just to males but also to some females who want to read something that will genuinely entertain them,' he adds.

Ronan feels that while the book is full of Cavan wit, humour and personality, not to mention stories based in well-known places and involving Cavan people, it"s something that all people, regardless of nationality, will be able to identify with and enjoy.

'I always wrote the book with a broad audience in mind. It will appeal to people not just in rural Cavan but anywhere in Ireland,' he said.

While always interested in reading and writing in his youth, Ronan admits that he originally penned a lot of the stories in the book when he was about 13 but wrote the first book of what has since become The Lord of the Rams in 2003, returning to it on-and-off over the past few years before finishing it in February of this year.

Initially the project was meant to be Ronan"s memoirs but it developed into something more as the stories built.

The books takes us on the Rams" adventures from Cavan to Meath, Waterford and Dublin in the college years and further afield with his childhood friends to London and other destinations abroad. 'It"s not so much about me but more about the people I grew up with. It"s really a book about friendship,' he said.

Ronan"s favourite chapter is 28, London"s Calling. It follows the Rams" adventures on a weekend visit to London. It"s a Saturday night and Lisa Hetherton, an old school friend from Munterconnaught who is studying nursing, has invited the Rams and friends to a party at Saint Mary"s hospital accommodation in Paddington. The extract can be read on Ronan"s website online www.lordoftherams.com.

Meanwhile, we have published an extract from the first chapter (facing page), where it opens in Munterconnaught.