The Republic of Ireland is a Constitutional Democracy, and a Neutral member of the European Union. Agriculture, tourism, computer software and financial services are major industries. Population about 4,500,000. Unit of currency the euro. Cost of living high; crime rate relatively low. Economic growth huge, (nicknamed 'the Celtic Tiger') but needs redevelopment of infrastructures such as road & rail. English speaking. U.N. peacekeeper. Time +0.00 hours GMT.
- William James Walsh was born on Sunday, 20th February, 1966. His parents were Maureen Walsh (nee Sweeney, d. 2001) and Thomas Walsh. The family lived at Doyle's Farm, in Edmondstown, Rathfarnham, Dublin, in a ramshackle, condemned farmhouse. It was owned by three eccentric brothers from Scholarstown in Rathfarnham, about whom he promises to write, some time in the future. The building was barely habitable, with no running water (except for what ran down the walls in Winter time). It was a rural area, with mixed farming of dairy cows, sheep, and beef herds. A motorway now bisects part of the nearby lands and sombody added a cemetery, but as he grew up there in the late 60s and 70s, it was a quiet backwater.
Willie is the youngest of four children, in order Eva, Joan, David and he. There's a 10-year gap between himself and his brother. He only mentions this, as it was one of his mother's favourite sayings.
He began his formal education at Edmondstown National School, at the age of four. The headmaster was Mr. Jimmy Downer, and there were two other teachers: Mr Egan, and Miss Egan (no relation). Imperial coinage, corporal punishment and learning by rote were three of the 'joys' of schooldays to pass into history during his time there, but not before he'd managed to swallow a sixpence, and get caned for not knowing his seven-times tables.
In late 1978, his mother, father and he moved to Tallaght, a sprawling suburb of the city of Dublin. He's undecided whether the stairs or the flushing toilet was the greatest novelty to him. Being warm and dry ran close second.
Willie continued his education at Saint Aengus National School, and completed his Intermediate Certificate and Leaving Certificate exams at Tallaght Community School in 1982 and 1984, respectively.
After school, Willie had such edifying jobs as plastic-parts sander, night watchman, and goods-container cleaner before he became a free-lance writer and started producing work for TSR Inc's gaming magazines Dungeon Adventures, and Dragon. He later produced works for Bord Failte's (the Irish Tourist Board's) magazine, Ireland of the Welcomes.
Around 1989, his mother, Maureen, suffered a stroke, which had effects on her memory and which developed into an Alzheimer's-like illness. Willie became her carer, a responsibility he continued until her death in October 2001.
In 1990, he met his ladyfriend, Brigid, and they've been together ever since. If it wasn't for Brig, he thinks he'd have been at the bottom of Dublin Bay a long time ago.
Today, Willie spends a good deal of his time teaching adult learners how to use computers. He manages a Website for a local heavy-metal group, another about roleplaying games and a chat room attached to his Home Page. His interest in things written remains strong, and he's published several new items since discovering the Internet. Now that he has a little more time, he hopes to resume writing for the regular print media.
Willie hangs on by the skin of his teeth in Tallaght, surrounded by cats and computer books.
