By Ryan Sands
A Castlewellan poet will officially launch her debut collection this weekend. Patricia O’Rourke will host a special event to mark the release of her new book, ‘Borrow My Words Until You Find Your Own’, in the town’s Hillyard House on Saturday 31 January.
Speaking to the Mourne Observer, the local woman said that her love of writing goes back to her schooldays and has continued up to the present day, with participation in local writing groups, the Mourne Writers’ Group in Newcastle, and The Write Cure in Downpatrick.
“I have always liked the idea of writing,” she stated. “I went to St Malachy’s Secondary School, as it was then, and got a couple of things included in the school magazine. I have dabbled in and out of various writing groups over a period of time, but this is the first time that I have actually really got serious about it and thought, ‘Okay, I have always talked about doing a book.’”
Patricia explained that having some of her work published in Local Women Magazine in January 2025 proved to be a catalyst for bringing poems she has composed over the last 18 months together as ‘Borrow My Words Until You Find Your Own’.
“I got a really good response from that, so that was probably the real springboard, I suppose, for me to think, ‘Okay, that was really good and you have a lot of other stuff, so put it together and put it out there and see where it goes,’” she added. “This book was the result.”
When asked to expand on the thematic nature of her poetry collection, the writer drew attention to the wording on its back cover. It reads:
“Have you ever experienced moments in your life when you just couldn’t find the right words to express how you feel? That’s when ‘Borrow My Words Until You Find Your Own’ has your back. This is a collection of poems that expresses your inner feelings in a way that allows you to acknowledge these feelings, reflect on them, and discover there is a better way. ‘Borrow My Words Until You Find Your Own’ will help you discover your own voice and help you live life on your own terms.”
Patricia said she has been “blown away” and “humbled” by the support she has received ahead of the launch and is hoping that her getting to the stage of releasing a book can be an inspiration to others.
“For me, being able to say, ‘I am just me and I am doing this,’ it might give someone else a bit of encouragement to say, ‘I went to school with that girl or I know that girl or she only lives down the road from me – if she can do it, why can’t I?’” she continued. “And why not? None of us know what is round the corner, and sometimes you think, ‘Why didn’t I do that or what was stopping me? Were you afraid of what someone was going to say?’”
“If it gives somebody else a bit of a think to say, ‘God, there is something I’d like to do, and if your woman can do it, sure I’ll have a go too. And you just never know where that might take somebody.’”
The launch event will feature readings of poems from the book and a raffle for vouchers donated by Hillyard House and Cushla’s Health and Beauty Clinic, Clough. As a long-time member of Wee Binnian Walkers, the Castlewellan writer will donate a percentage of sales from the day to the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team.
The afternoon launch will run between 2pm and 4pm, and attendees have been invited to “just drop in/out as your time allows and have a cuppa or even a glass of fizz.” Signed copies of the book cost £13.99 and can be preordered for collection on the day or for delivery by emailing porourke676@gmail.com.
Visit balboapress.com to purchase ‘Borrow My Words Until You Find Your Own’ online.
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