Standing festival ovation for Mayo woman at launch of her acclaimed book

by John Healy

There was a prolonged standing ovation from the capacity attendance for the launch of Geraldine Lavelle's book, 'Weathering the Storm', at the Wild Atlantic Words Festival.

The overflow audience at the Festival Dome at Bridge St., which spilled over into the courtyard, acclaimed the book, which traces the story of the author's coming to terms with the life changing injuries sustained in an horrific road accident nine years ago.

In the event hosted by local broadcaster, Michael D. McAndrew, readers gathered from all over the county to pay tribute to the courage and resilience of a remarkable young woman.

Geraldine's life long friend, Katrina Groarke, in a moving and emotional tribute, outlined how the life of the sport- loving, high achieving, ambitious young woman changed in an instant, and of how she responded to the challenge.

Hailed as a highlight of the Wild Atlantic Words festival, 'Weathering the Storm' is a remarkable book by a remarkable woman and a testament to the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

In 2013, while out for a routine cycle, Geraldine's life changed in an instant when suffered a spinal cord injury in a road accident that left three-quarters of her body paralysed.

Overnight, Geraldine had to adapt from being an independent, physically-active young woman to a new world where she required assistance to perform the most basic tasks.

Published by Mayo Books Press, 'Weathering The Storm' is Geraldine’s honest and inspirational account of her journey over the last nine years – from those dark, bleak early days when she struggled to accept the cruel fate visited upon her to her emergence as a powerful and articulate voice for people with disabilities in Ireland.

This is a story of resilience, a story of a courageous young woman’s determination to survive the harshest of life’s storms.

Geraldine holds a Bachelor of Science and a Masters in Neuroscience from NUI Galway.

Since acquiring her disability, she has worked at Abbott Diagnostics, lectured in health science and physiology at IT Sligo and qualified as a special needs assistant.

She is also a passionate advocate for people living with disabilities and has contributed regular articles to the the Western People, Sligo Champion and several national media outlets.

The Wild Atlantic Words Festival continues until next Sunday.