THANKS AND CREDITS:

Loose Horses was commissioned under the auspices of South Dublin County Council's "per cent for art" programme, in context. in context, developed in partnership with Artworking, is funded through the Department of the Environment.

Thanks are due:

First of all to South Dublin County Council for their generosity in allocating funding to this project;

To the artistic steering committee, for choosing the project and especially to Emily Jane Kirwan, Arts Officer, for her support;

Special thanks to Aisling Prior, whose calm efficiency and expertise made it all seem easy.

Many people supported the project along the way and gave practical help when it was needed. Thanks to:

Simon Robinson, for designing a website with an emphasis on accessibility;

Adam May, at Language Communications, for the pamphlets and the Loose Horses logo; also Lys Hegarty and Mark Steiner.

David Kennedy and his staff, especially Michelle and Robert Kennedy Cochrane, at The Echo newspapers;

Declan McLoughlin, Adam Ledwith and Aidan O'Dowd at Tallaght Community Radio;

Betty Stenson and Kieran Swords at the County Library, Tallaght: Betty for her contacts and Kieran for invaluable information about Poulaphouca; also Georgina Byrne, senior librarian;

Una Phelan at Ballyroan Library and the Ballyroan Writers' Group for their enthusiasm;

Staff at all the county libraries who were interested, helpful and supportive;

Paddy McNamara, Michael Coleman and John McAleer at South Dublin County Council;

Eithne Mc Guinness, Mark Dunne and Donagh Deeney for reading some of the stories for broadcast;

Lorraine Brennan and Mary Frances O'Dwyer at Lorraine Brennan Management;

Peter Sirr, Katherine Moore and Mark Grenier at the Irish Writers' Centre;

Tony Hickey and Brendan Nolan of the Irish Writers' Union;

Sheila Barrett for help with proofreading;

Gaye Shortland for her comments;

Roisin Dunne for help with managing the accounts;

Seamus Hosey;

Everyone who entered the short story competition - the standard was intimidatingly high! There is an enormous amount of local talent at work in South Dublin, which is good to know, but made the task of selecting the winners all the more difficult.

Last, but certainly not least, the writers who contributed their work, without whom ...

Ivy Bannister, Pat Boran, Martin Devaney, Pat Gough, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, and Joan Sloey. It's been a privilege.