‘Women and fish, it all boils down to the one that got away.’ Is just one of the many clangers you can enjoy amongst the pages of ‘River Clarified Filtered Soft: An Irish tale of duration, divilment and grand craic.’
Richard (Rucky) Ruxton grew up in Arklow’s Fisheries in the 1950’s and 60’s. A time when priorities differed and religion was truly embedded in every part of society. Taking a somewhat unusual route through his school years via Carysfort to CBS, there is both a fondness in Ruxton’s story telling aswell as a curiosity as to the differences between the systems and norms of each section of society. So similar yet so different.
His story reads a little like Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes but with less misery involved. An intriguing tale of the joy that can be found in the most mundane of days combined with the bizarre happenings of life in a town where everyone knows everyone. A town that continually evolves despite the appearance of staying the same. The book is a charming meander through Ruxton’s childhood – the people, the places, the memories and above all else the Arklow of years gone by.
A fascinating look back in time that is guaranteed to transport you there with the smells, sounds and sights of the Fisheries included!
Richard now lives in France with his wife and enjoys his grape juice, also filtered and sometimes fermented.
You can find his book River Clarified Filtered Soft at Cafe des Sports if you happen to be in the Dordogne region of France or closer to home you can find it at Beat That Records, Main Street, Arklow (Please call ahead as they had sold out recently and are awaiting a fresh delivery). If you can’t wait for the restock, you can also pick it up on a Amazon.
