Seventy-eight year old Muff resident releases her debut novel

Irene Melaugh has released her debut novel ‘A Riot in Murphy’s Pub’. 

Irene grew up in the Brandywell in Derry, however she has been living in Muff for the past 22 years.

Getting this book published has been a lifelong dream of Irene but she wasn’t sure if it would happen when she left school at the age of 14.

The book was published earlier this year and has been getting great reviews on Amazon. Mrs. Melaugh’s story should be one that inspires those who have yet to achieve their childhood dream that it is always possible. She would move into theatre as a playwright in her 50s, having raised her four children, and this book is loosely based on one of her plays, ‘A Whole Handling’ and from her experiences in life. The author said: “Although at the time when I really wanted that education when I was frustrated, I now realise it all made me what I am.

“He thinks he comes home one Friday night but it is the early hours of Sunday morning and his wife murders him” commented Irene when talking about the book.

“They have no family, so his body goes into the chapel until burial but his drinking partners are outraged that he isn’t having a wake. They have a party in the bar to celebrate the memory of his life. The next day however the police arrive to see who kidnapped his body.”

The book is available on Amazon and in Little Acorns book shop in Derry.Pegasus, the publishers of the book, have commissioned a further two novels from Mrs. Melaugh as they look to further share her experiences. With a screenplay already written for ‘A Riot in Murphy’s Pub', there is a chance that soon people could be watching on their TV screens.