Lorcán Mannion works in engineering but has always loved arts and writing. He has just published his debut book, which celebrates the wonders of daily life and the connections between the living and the dead. All proceeds from its sales are going to the charity HopeSpace which supports grieving children and teenagers. He tells JUDY MURPHY what inspired him to publish.

Lorcán Mannion who works as a consultant in the life science industry, is a man of many parts. He has been involved with St Michael’s GAA Club in the city for nearly two decades and currently serves as its secretary. He’s a member of the choir in his local church, St James’ in Bushypark, where he leads a youth singing group. He’s taken part in amateur drama for years and he’s a regular sea swimmer at Blackrock. It was the encouragement of his swimming friends that led him to realise his latest project.

Those Left Behind is a collection of stories and poems in celebration of the “ordinary things” that are so often not ordinary at all – the bonds of family, the companionship of friends, the knowledge that “we are passing through” and that everything is transitory.

The book was launched in Ballybane Library in the city last Saturday by former Galway hurler Iggy Clarke, a longtime hero of Lorcán’s and  in more recent years, a friend.

All proceeds from Those Left Behind are going to the youth charity HopeSpace, while the book is dedicated to the memory of the “inspirational” Pat Fallon who had a profound impact on Lorcán’s life.

Pat, who lived in Bearna, died in March 2018, and his wife Breda went on to set HopeSpace to meet the needs of children who were grieving, after she couldn’t find such a service when her own family was in need.

Like Lorcán, Pat was embedded in the GAA, serving as Bearna’s coaching officer for many years and helping to set up its juvenile structures.

And like Lorcán, Pat was from Roscommon although the two didn’t meet until they were living in Galway, when they forged a firm friendship through the GAA as well as KATS drama group.

Lorcán had first moved to Galway in 1988, to study Industrial Engineering at UCG. It was where he met his wife, Grace, “on our first day”, he recalls.

They married and settled in the city’s Circular Road, where they still live, and had four children. Twenty-two year old Éabha is studying psychology at UL, Caomhán (20) is pursuing architecture in UCD, while 16-year-old Aifric and 14-year-old MacDara are still in secondary school. Aifric plays hockey with Galway and Connacht.

Lorcán worked for various companies before setting up his own consultancy business, specialising in helping life-science companies improve their lab operations. His clients include SMEs and companies supported by the IDA.

There’s a lot of travel involved, and there was one particularly happy period between 2010 and 2011 when the family relocated to Italy. Grace, who gave up work around that time, went back when the children were older and is now manager of the University of Galway’s Martin Ryan Institute.

Sport is central to the Mannion family and Lorcán has played a key role in St Michael’s for almost two decades.

“Caomhán was three when I got involved and I ended up managing the U12 team,” says Lorcán, recalling the thrill when the young side won the City League at Pearse Stadium.

Pat Fallon was at the game and congratulated the winning manager. He also made an observation that had an impact on Lorcán.

“He said, ‘I hate to see any child leaving Pearse Stadium crying’.”

Lorcán had been embedded in football since childhood in Roscommon, and had played with his local club, Tulsk. It was all competitive stuff, he says, but Pat’s comment caused him to reflect.

This was in the time before GAA Go Games, when children either won or lost their matches, with the attendant jubilation or despair.

Pictured: Lorcán Mannion at the launch. All proceeds from the sale of the book are going to HopeSpace. PHOTOS: JOE O’SHAUGHNESSY.