Naas clinician pens debut novel
Mary Moloney, who publishes her debut novel this week, standing outside the Moat Theatre in Naas recently
A FORMER schoolteacher, now a naturopathy herbalist, has added a third string to her eclectic bow by writing her first novel at 63 years of age.
Mary Moloney practices her naturopathy out of a clinic at her home in Mountain View on the Blessington Road out of Naas, having previously been a primary schoolteacher in the girl’s school in Clane.
“I’m from Limerick originally, but I’ve been a long time in Kildare,” she said.
“I give advice on lifestyle and diets, and I make up formulas and tinctures, but they can go to the doctor as well, I’d never tell them not to!” added Mary.
And as if her life wasn’t full enough, Mary chose to write her debut novel earlier this year, which she hopes will be in local bookstores next week.
“ is what it’s called,” she said proudly.
“It’s been released online about five weeks ago, and I’d hope to see it in the shops next Monday or Tuesday,” she said.
“The story is about Ron O’Connell, short for Veronica, who is a 32-year-old single mam who hasn’t had life too easy,” explained Mary.
“She then moves from a fictitious address in Tallaght to Leitrim to keep her 15-year-old son Brendan away from gangland influences,” she continued.
“However, she is left a good fortune after doing a kindly act for an elderly lady in the past, so she can now gift her son the lifestyle of travelling the world she couldn’t have.
“Ron will never have her life measured in teaspoons, and the universe has a way of throwing her curveballs, but she is ever resilient,” said Mary.
This rather bold reporter asked Mary as to her vintage, and when she said 63, I was able to tell her what a spring chicken she still was in comparison to last week’s featured author Dr Barbara Walsh who has just published her seventh at 90!
“I was 44 when I trained, and I thought I was too old, but a lecturer told me of an 88-year-old taking the course in London, so you’re never too old!” smiled Mary.
