A large crowd turned up at Óstán Loch Altan in Gort an Choirce on Friday night last for the launch of a fascinating book written by a local couple.
Mary Attenborough and Michael Gallagher captivated their audience when they gave them a taste of their gripping memoir ‘Unbroken: Secrets, Lies and Enduring Love.’
Parts of the memoir which tells the story of a wrongful arrest and a battle for freedom was retold by both Michael and Mary.
The book, which was formally launched by local Dail Deputy Pearse Doherty, TD, attracted a great crowd.
The traditional and folk music group FIR CEOL travelled from north Antrim to provide musical entertainment and Maeve Convery from publisher Merrion Press came from Derry to MC the evening.
Galway West TD Mairead Farrell also made the journey to be in the audience – the line for signed copies stretched far and the evening was a great success.
On 28 October 1996 Glaswegian Michael Gallagher is arrested in an armed dawn raid on the London flat he shares with long-time partner, Mary Attenborough. Accused of playing a role in the IRA mortar attack on Heathrow Airport in March 1994, Michael proclaims his innocence. Mary meanwhile throws herself into the battle to free him and highlight what she sees as just another example of British ‘justice’ getting it wrong.
Told in the alternating voices of the two authors, the dramatic story unfolds with Michael struggling against the harsh conditions of incarceration, while Mary focuses on organising his legal defence, battling to stay positive in the face of soul-destroying setbacks and emotional hardships.
Yet behind it all lies a secret there is an unspoken secret that Michael dare not tell. His true role in the events that lead to his imprisonment. The secret that could tear the couple apart. How can their love survive?
Tense and emotional, with an electrifying twist, Unbroken is a gripping true story of faithfulness and deception, and a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human heart.
Michael and Mary, are being interviewed on Ireland AM on July 16th and will be signing copies of UNBROKEN at The Bookmark, Unit 22, Letterkenny Shopping Centre, Port Rd, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, F92 FH48 from 12 noon to 2p.m. on Saturday 19th July.
A section of the large crowd at the book launch.
