Maisie turned back to her audience. ‘A lovely lady called Joan Wilde helped me and Rave – I should say John now he’s grown-up – and their friends write this book about what happened, what we learned and how it changed us.’ She pointed into the crowd. ‘Deirdre Mahony, Casey Shaw, Jonno Lynch, Mitch Carberry, Dave O’Loughlin, can you all stand up, please?’ They did so, and the crowd clapped fiercely.

‘And now I want to introduce to you John Rave Murphy.’

John stood up slowly and leaned on his best friend, Dave. He was emotional, scared and still, after all those years, deeply sad, but he was all right, better than all right: he was a fighter, a survivor. He overcame everything and he was a success. Maisie was proud of him. She knew Jeremy would have been proud too. When Jeremy’s friends were seated again and the applause had died down, Maisie finished with the simple truth.

‘It was just an accident, a terrible, stupid, avoidable accident. The real tragedy is how we all made those boys feel: the shame, guilt, pain and hatred we instilled in them. I wish I could have been the mother I am now back then, but I wasn’t, and that’s OK because I’ve changed. I’ve grown. I’ve educated myself, and that’s all I ask of you. Some of you probably don’t need to read this book – some of you are already there – but for the others, the ones who have grown up in houses where sexuality is an issue or being gay is something to be condemned, I hope today has lit a spark in you. I hope it’s given you a different perspective. Finally, for those of you who are hiding who you really are, I want to say that you are entitled to love. All you’ve got to do is be who you are, go out there and find it. Thank you.’

The crowd stood as they applauded and laughter bubbled up in her chest. Maisie Bean Brennan, who do you think you are?

‘Thank you.’ She took one last look around the room, then nodded at John, Dave and Lynn. Time to go. John was already navigating Lynn out of the noisy room before it all got too much for her.

She walked to the side of the stage and into the arms of her family. ‘How’d I do?’

‘You were amazing, Ma’sie,’ Valerie said.

‘I’m so fuckin’ proud I could burst.’ That was Fred.

‘What about you, Arthur?’

‘You rock, Ma’sie. You made me wish I was gay.’

‘Cheeky git.’

‘Right. Let’s get the others and celebrate kicking off your ma’s lecture tour in spectacular fashion. Ma’sie’s a real poshie now,’ Fred said, ruffling his son’s hair.

Arthur playfully pushed him away. ‘All right, Da! This hair doesn’t just happen on its own.’