Among friends at the launch of Big Parts

It was not only Shakespeare"s birthday last Thursday, but also the birthday of Shane Connaughton"s wife, Ann, and a large crowd turned out in the Johnston Central Library for the launch of Shane"s latest book, Big Parts. 'So, it"s a special day… and she"s still 21!' smiled Shane, speaking of his wife. The sense of warmth in the library was palpable, as county librarian, Josephine Brady, remarked. She spoke of the 'spirit of the late Brian Johnston in the room', surmising that the former County Manager would have said something like: 'This celebration of Shane Connaughton should have happened long ago.' Shane is a writer whose achievements speak for themselves and who doesn"t need to be "talked up". Josephine summed him up simply: 'Cavan writer. Shane Connaughton.' 'He has captured Cavan and its people... with his gift for dialogue and telling wonderful stories. He is a shining example of what a man can do when he dedicates himself to something,' said the chairman of Cavan County Council, Charlie Boylan. Creative, inventive and productive were the words Cllr. Boylan chose to describe the writer, actor and producer. 'Shane has certainly put Redhills on the map,' said the chairman, who is also a Redhills adoptee, having lived there for 25 years. London-born, Dublin-based actor, Anthony Brophy - better known to Cavan people as Prunty from Run Of The Country - performed the official launch of Big Parts. 'I"ve probably never had a more satisfying experience,' said Anthony of spending time in Co. Cavan for the making of Run Of The Country. 'It was very special... When your lines are that good, there"s not a lot of acting required.' He spoke too of Shane"s imagination, humanity, capacity for kindness, love affair with language and 'his heart'. Shane had words of tribute for all the previous speakers. Josephine is 'a powerhouse behind this signature building', he said. Anthony is an actor who deserves 'to be sung about'. He was 'touched' by Cllr Boylan"s welcome. He also paid tribute to jazz and blues band, Fitz and the Giggles, for their musical introduction. He thanked all who came out for the launch and spoke warmly of his Cavan childhood: 'It was an amazing life and, of course, that"s where the books come from - that richness.' There was a special treat in store for the audience, when Shane read, not from the book Big Parts, but from the diary he kept in London with notes of inspiration in it. The audience was delighted with his dramatic reading of excerpts from the diary that didn"t make it to the published book - the out-takes, as it were. 'Instead of reading from the book, I"ll read a bit of the stuff that never made it... That"s got to be a first.' He read of a Groucho Marx type character he encountered on a bus, and a Dub 'who"d bate anyone'. He also read a comical excerpt from the book, about character Freddie Parts who sought to get a refund from a pharmacy for an enema that didn"t work - 'Public Enema No. 1!' 'Coming out on a night like this surrounded by friends and warmth...' he said. 'I can"t think of anything better.'