Ruth McDonnell

Hi, I’m Ruth McDonnell, a mother to 3 mischievous boys and a caring stepdaughter. Myself, my husband and our boys live in Clane Co. Kildare. I wrote this book shortly after I lost my gorgeous little boy Ruairí to a terminal rare neurological condition. You cannot measure the depth of the sadness and emptiness I hold.

Ruairí’s curious mind and tenacious spirit made sure he never let anything stand in his way. He’s a force of nature and embraced life to the full. He is my inspiration for this book and all that I do.

 This awful disease robbed Ruairí of his sight, his smile and his laughter in such a short space of time. His zest for life really shone through in the manner in which he dealt with his illness. He never gave up.

My vision is to celebrate his life, which was taken too soon. To continue his love for life, to honour his lasting legacy by sharing his wonderfully vivid imagination for all to enjoy. As his mother, my natural instinct was to write about him in all the colour and wonder he surrounds us in. To try and capture even a fraction of his energy, his zest for life and keep his memories alive through this book, knowing that his light will never go out.

“So what is a dancing rainbow?” You ask so curiously.

“A Dancing Rainbow,” exclaims Ruairí, “Come, follow my lead and you’ll see.”