WATCH: The advice from his mother that changed Paddy Joe Burke's life
Pictured at Paddy Joe Burke's book launch in the Abbey Hotel on Friday evening, L-R: Joe Finnegan, Shannonside FM; Paddy Joe Burke; Richard Canny, co-author; Michael Brennan, Red Stripe Press publishers. Pic: Ger O'Loughlin
One of Roscommon's best-known personalities Paddy Joe Burke has revealed how five simple pieces of advice from his late mother helped shape his life and career.
Launching his memoir, 'Kindness Has a Long Memory', at the Abbey Hotel on Friday night, Paddy Joe recalled the moment he realised his major struggles with spelling could have severely limited his future opportunities.
After returning home upset from school as a young boy, his mother offered him five rules to live by: make eye contact, say hello, smile, use good manners and use common sense.
Paddy Joe explained to a large gathering at the launch that those lessons became the foundation of his 50 years behind the famous barber's chair in Church Street, Roscommon town.
The memoir also explores his journey from a difficult childhood and struggles with dyslexia; overcoming alcohol addiction; the many wonderful stories from his barber shop and the source of his lifelong passion as a Roscommon GAA supporter.
Throughout the launch, Paddy Joe returned to one central message: kindness matters. "We all need to be nice to one another and we all need to be kind," he told the audience.
Shannonside FM presenter Joe Finnegan described 'Kindness Has a Long Memory: Paddy Joe Burke, The Untold Story' as "the most anticipated publication of the year" as he officially launched the book.
He commended Paddy Joe's willingness to share his struggles with dyslexia, addiction and shame, describing the memoir as a message of hope for others facing similar challenges.
Joe said that the popular Roscommon figure had shared his struggles in school "in the hope that it would help the young Paddy Joe of today who's at school right now and is finding it difficult to cope with reading and writing".
(See full coverage of the book launch in Tuesday’s edition of the Roscommon Herald)
*Co-written by Roscommon Herald Deputy Editor Richard Canny, 'Kindness Has a Long Memory: Paddy Joe Burke – The Untold Story' is published by Red Stripe Press and is available from local outlets, selected bookstores nationwide, and online at www.redstripepress.com
