Poet's manuscript lost at Spancilhill Horse Fair

THE ONLY copy of a new collection of work by internationally renowned Limerick poet Desmond O’Grady was lost at the Spancilhill Horse Fair in Clare this week.

Limerick man Barney Sheehan (75), who had the copy in his possession, is appealing to people in Clare and beyond to return an unpublished manuscript.

A reward of several hundred euros is also being offered for the return of the draft book.

Entitled My Limerick City, the manuscript was due to be dropped off at the printers this weekend for publication.

Mr Sheehan lamented that he only had a couple of last-minute corrections to make to the book and said it was intended that it would “sell Limerick all over the world”.

He was enjoying the Spancilhill Horse Fair, a few miles from Ennis, on Tuesday when he put the copy of the book on the ground momentarily. It was presumably picked up by a passerby.

He has notified gardaí in Quin, Co Clare, of the missing manuscript, but fears it “may now have been thrown over a hedge.”

Mr O’Grady confirmed that he has no proof version of the book, as he said he “left everything in Mr Sheehan’s hands. It’s by sheer chance that this type of thing happens.”

Now living in Cork, Mr O’Grady added that Mr Sheehan, was “totally reliable and very responsible”.