About

Hi, I’m Páraig, a retired teacher, passionate about writing, cycling and gardening, food and hoovering. Friends of mine know that I’m an occasional spoofer.

I’ve recently published my memoirs, ‘The Write Time’. More about that over on my ‘Life’s Like That’ blog The Three Hairs. There’s a great story (well, I think it’s a great story!) about How The Three Hairs Started.

Where did the name of my website The Three Hairs come from, you ask?

Youth hostelling with 6th class pupils in Glencree in early eighties was MAGICAL… they were a great class, bubbly and interesting. One evening, after sausages & beans, a brave girl was pushed to deliver a message… I could see she was giddy yet nervous…

“Can we tell you your nickname, sir? Will you be cross?”

“I don’t know until you tell me”, says I.

And she hesitated and they all giggled madly.

“Well… OK. Your nickname is… Baldylocks and the Three Hairs.”

And she looked right at me hoping it was OK. Everyone was hushed, and I figured I’d think about it for a few seconds longer than necessary. Poor kids didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Then I just burst out laughing!
“Whoever thought up that name should get no homework tonight,” I says.
“But it’s Saturday,” they all sighed.
Those were the days teachers could bring kids away on trips. My memories of Wicklow are amazing.