Ballivor author Quinn's books to be 'adopted' by Nobber readers

A very new and innovative literary project entitled 'One Author - One Nobber' is being launched in O'Carolan College, Nobber, in October. It involves the students from the college, their parents, the local community and fifth and sixth class pupils of surrounding primary schools. The idea is to adopt author John Quinn for six weeks and to read all his books. At the end of the project, John Quinn will spend a couple of days in the area talking to each of the participating groups. Ballivor native Quinn has written many books including six children's books and four of these will be read by first year students in O'Carolan College and senior in the local primary schools. In 1992, he won the Bisto Children's' Book of the Year award with his book 'The Summer of Lily and Esme'. His autobiographical work 'Goodnight Ballivor, I'll Sleep In Trim' was the result of a radio documentary. This book is being read by the transition year students and members of Nobber Friendship Club. Quinn will visit O'Carolan College on Wednesday 13th October and will meet all the students involved in the project. His idea is to bring the two groups - students and older readers - together to discuss the book and facilitate some creative writing with the group. Later that same evening in Nobber Library, he will give a public talk on some of his books including 'The Will To Win', his biography of Sean Boylan, 'Meath - The Royal County' and 'The Curious Mind'. Everyone is welcome to attend. On the morning of Thursday 14th October, he will visit the local primary school where he will talk about his work and the skill of writing. John Quinn was born in Ballivor in 1941, where his father was Garda Sergeant. He went to boarding school at 12 to the Patrician College, Ballyfin. From there he went to St Patrick's Teacher Training College, Drumcondra. He began teaching in St Fergal's Primary School in Finglas West from 1961-68. During that time he became ill and spent nine months in a sanitorium in Blanchardstown. It was here he met his wife to be, Olive McKeever, from Stackallen, whom he married in 1968. Sadly, she died in 2001. 'Sea of Love, Sea of Loss' is a novel John wrote after her passing. The book is a collection of old and recent letters, diary entries, anecdotes, and poems which illustrates an account of their life together. After seven years teaching in the primary section, Quinn took up a position in Banada Abbey, a co-educational school in Sligo. A year later he returned to Co Meath where he taught in St Patrick's Classical School in Navan from 1969 -1970. Publishing company Fallons then made him an offer to good to refuse; as an editor on a salary of £2,000 a year which was twice as much as he got from teaching. In 1975, John joined RTE as an education officer piloting schools programmes and later became a radio producer, a role he fulfilled for 25 years making a varied range of documentaries including 'My Books', 'The Open Mind', 'Millennium Minds' and 'My Friends'. These interviews are the basis of the book, 'The Curious Mind'. All of John Quinn's books are on display in O'Carolan College, Nobber Library, the local health centre, post office and Nobber Pharmacy. Everyone in Nobber is welcome to read his work and to come and hear his talk in the Library on Wednesday 13th October.