Thomas Conlan was born on December 17th 1917 in Kildooras, Co. Clare. He was the third youngest in a family of nine and at the age of three, by his own choosing, he went to live with his childless aunt and uncle. In the surroundings of this small farmstead he enjoyed the simplicity of his childhood years being in close contact with nature. At the age of fourteen the responsibility of the farm was suddenly thrust upon him after the unexpected death of his uncle. This became the deciding moment of his life journey. He never left this place where later his five children were naturally born to Nora, his wife.
Thomas had a rare gift of insight. Although he did not claim it to be anything special, yet it soon becomes apparent in his book that he was not just recalling his path, rather he was showing the way, and in particular to the ones not yet born. Reading through its pages will illustrate the rest.