Local author to feature on RTÉ's news2day
Orla Keating was the star of her book launch event at the bandhall in Mullingar last night, and she was on duty again this morning charming pupils at Presentation Junior School with her wit and acting ability.
Orla’s book is titled ‘Orla and the GoFaster Stick’ and she read from it for Ms Sullivan’s class this morning while presenter and cameraman from news2day, Reem El-Hassany, and John McMorrow, filmed her and conducted an interview.
The piece is due for broadcast on today’s show, which starts at 4.20pm on RTÉ2, RTÉ News and on RTÉ Player.
Orla’s book
Every day during lockdown, Orla Keating walked along the Royal Canal in Mullingar, and inspired by her daily walks, she decided to enter a writing competition run by the Local Authority Waters Programme.
The story that resulted has been published as a children’s book, Orla and the GoFaster Stick, which was launched last night by Orla and the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, TD, (Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth).
Minister Rabbitte conducted the launch digitally, while her colleague Minister Peter Burke was present at the bandhall to congratulate Orla and her family.
The book tells the story of Orla meeting her friends and family as she walks along the canal – they all want to use her GoFaster stick as something else… but all Orla wants to do is continue her walk!
Orla has always had an interest in writing, having written poems and stories over the years. Her accomplishments are all the greater as Orla has Down syndrome and special needs. She hopes her book will inspire others to write stories.
The book was one of the winners in the ‘Stories from the Waterside’ competition.
The book was printed by Triest Press in Roscommon, a social enterprise which provides employment to people with learning disabilities.
All proceeds from the book will be donated to the Longford Westmeath Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland.
Orla and the GoFaster Stick can be purchased at selected outlets and online at https://gofasterstick.squarespace.com/.