My father Joe, who features prominently in this book, but even more prominently in my thoughts and feelings every day. To some extent, this entire book is one long thank you to you, and the sacrifices you made to make my childhood one that contained as much humour and absurdity as it did. I don’t think even you understand what a gift that’s been to me, and to all of us. Thank you for being as generous with your memories – granted, after a certain amount of wheedling from me – as you have been with your time, energy and understanding throughout my life. I can’t wait to hear your every objection and correction to each error and misapprehension you find in these pages. Where I have stretched reality to grasp a joke, I hope you’ll understand, or offer forgiveness. You have forgiven me for worse in the past. For that and for everything else, I can’t ever thank you enough.
I’d like to thank my wonderful wife Ciara for her reassurance, criticism and undying support, not least literal financial support when I quit my job to write full time. A lot of writing is spent thinking you’re not very good, so it’s occasionally useful to have someone around who’s not afraid to put that suspicion outside all doubt. And there’s no better feeling than when you – specifically you – like something I’ve done. My mission in life remains to make you laugh, and I am glad the book has even now had good reason to make you cry once or twice. I adore you beyond words but, since that’s what books are made of, they’ll have to do this once. I love you.
And to Ruadh, the bright, burning star in my sky, who makes life better, sweeter and happier every single day he’s in it. Each extra layer of depth you’ve added to my heart has helped me dig deeper into the deep stuff. I could not have written this book without you.