‘Ardboe Laureate’ now available in local shops

Copies of Desmond Devlin’s ‘Ardboe Laureate’ are now on sale at Forbes’ Spar, Ardboe McConville’s XL shop in the villagepriced at £5.

33 year-old Desmond, who self-published the book, says he began writing poetry as a form of “self-therapy” after losing his job in 2007.

Just a year later he lost his mother to Parkinson’s Disease.

Desmond had already lost his father as a child when was murdered during the Troubles in 1989.

Michael, who was just 33 at the time, was murdered when UVF gunmen opened fire on the Battery Bar, Moortown.

On top of suffering loss in his life, Desmond was diagnosed with a form of autism known as Asperger Syndrome, which can inhibit communication skills.

But despite this Desmond has shown a highly prolific talent for writing poems and short verses and was even awarded an International Poet of Merit certificate for his writing.

He says he has used the loss in his life, along with his own experiences, to write poetry.

For more information on Desmond’s work visit: http://www.desmonddevlin.me.uk