John Patrick Reilly was born in 1927, in an old lock-keepers cottage on the banks of the River Boyne. He was proud of his humble beginnings and as a boy he believed he was rich beyond his wildest dreams, yet all he had was the love of his warm and caring family-that and unadulterated freedom. His tales of growing up in rural Ireland are written with care and passion, not only for those he knew and for the life he loved, but also for the beauty of his surroundings-something he never took for granted. John describes with incredible detail, the world he grew up in, his family, his friends and the community around Slane village, Stackallan National School and Slane Castle, where he lived, played and worked. His memoirs will not only be relevant to those who knew him, but to all those with a love of yearning of times gone by. This is a heartfelt story with family values at the core. A wonderful legacy.