LORNA’S STORY

Lorna Byrne is a bestselling author and philanthropist. She lives in Co Kilkenny and has four children and four grandchildren Aideen was just four when her father, my husband, Joe passed away in 2000. We met when I was 17 and I knew he would die young. Angels have spoken to me since I was an infant and told me that my husband and I would not grow old together.

Despite knowing my life with Joe would be cut short, I loved him and married him. We had four children together – Aideen is the youngest – before he died after a long illness, aged 46.

I’ve often reflected that had I acted on the information given to me by angels, I wouldn’t have suffered such a heart-breaking loss and become a widowed, single mother. But then I wouldn’t have my children and I can’t imagine life without them. I don’t regret that path.

Angels have been in my life for as long as I can remember. I have memories of them leaning over my cot, tall and bathed in bright light. As a child they told me one day I’d write a book, which made me laugh because back then I was described as ‘slow’. I couldn’t even write my name. In fact, I was dyslexic but with no diagnosis I was put at the back of the classroom and largely ignored.

At home in Dublin, I was one of eight children and loved by my parents but I was treated differently. Expectations of me were low, conversations would stop when I walked into a room because my family would assume I couldn’t contribute or understand. I often felt I was on the outside of family life.

Angels were my constant companions. They urged me to keep them secret and it was normal for me to speak with them. I also saw souls. My brother Christopher – who