A STEADY crowd turned out  in Union Hall for the launch of a new memoir by locally based authors Mari Novak and Steven Kelly, despite challenging weather conditions on the day.

Around 30 people attended the event, hosted by Cnoc Bui Community Arts Centre, including a strong showing from members of the Skibbereen Writers’ Group, alongside friends, neighbours, and colleagues from across West Cork.

The book, In the Trenches of Change, draws on the authors’ combined 40 years of experience working in international development and organisational reform across more than 30 countries.

Following a short introduction by the authors, guests heard brief endorsements from Robert Foulkes and Sally Fegan-Wyles, both highlighting the practical insights and human perspective captured in the memoir.

Rather than a formal reading, the evening focused on storytelling and discussion.

Novak and Kelly shared selected experiences from their work in post-communist Europe, Central Asia, and Africa. One story described how a well-intended farming reform in Kyrgyzstan led to unintended consequences when national markets were overlooked.

Now based in West Cork, the authors said they were particularly pleased to bring the launch back to their local community.

‘It was important for us to start here,’ said Novak. ‘West Cork has been where we’ve stepped back and made sense of the decades of work.’

The event concluded with an informal discussion and book signing, with strong interest from attendees in the themes of the book and its relevance beyond international development.

Further details about the memoir, including sample chapters, are available at www.trenchesofchange.com