Gabriel’s collection of verse for young back by popular demand

‘WILL you be my friend?’ was the question posed in the title of a notable Writers’ Week launch in 2016.

Given that it was an hilarious collection of children’s verse from the hand of Kerry scribe Gabriel Fitzmaurice, the answer came as a resounding ‘ Yes’!

That was the title of the collection of poetry for younger readers launched at Writers’ Week last year by Fitzmaurice that is already - due to popular demand and the circumstances of the publishing world – being reissued for Christmas and being relaunched in Listowel on Saturday next, December 16.

Originally published by Liberties Press, the new edition is being released by Salmon Poetry - described as one of Ireland’s premier poetry publishers – and features a host of new material as well as a new cover and artwork by Gabriel’s artist wife Brenda.

Will You Be My Friend? (mark two) is being launched by Joanne Keane O’Flynn at Woulfe’s Bookshop in Listowel at noon on Saturday in a pre- Christmas must for Fitzmaurice’s young fans and their parents.

His children’s poetry is fairly infectious no matter your age, full of catchy rhyme on a host of subjects that push all the right buttons for the kids.

“I have decided to bring out a revised edition for Christmas with extra poems, including poems in the Irish language, and new cover and interior artwork by Brenda, my wife,” Gabriel said.