Out of a tragedy for Kinsale family is ‘Dear Sebastian’, a best-selling book to cherish

By Leo McMAHON Saturday November 21st, 2009

OUT of a devastating tragedy for a Kinsale family has come a bestselling book to cherish in Dear Sebastian – a father’s last wish, a legacy of inspiration, compiled by Christine Horgan, published by Hachette Ireland and launched in September at a reception in Dublin.

When Christine’s son from a previous marriage, Jordan Ferguson, a successful managing director of a London-based internet company was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of 34 while on a business trip to Australia in March 2008 and told he had only months to live, a psychologist advised him to write a letter to his then nine-year-old son Sebastian for when he wasn’t there – a letter with words and advice to help him when he was growing up.

Jordan, however, had the idea to extend this legacy. He decided to gather together words of wisdom and advice from a wide range of well-known and successful Irish people – writers, politicians, artists, clergy, sports stars, musicians and those in business.

The result was Dear Sebastian, a collection of inspirational letters to a young boy about living life in the best way possible, letters that sympathise and deal with the pain of loss but above all speak of hope, optimism of life and the enduring power of love. Tragedy incidentally, struck Jordan at the age of nine when his father was killed in a car crash.

Jordan died on June 27, 2008, before he had completed the book but managed beforehand to publicly announce his final project to Pat Kenny on his RTÉ Radio programme and in his final days asked his mother to complete it, which she duly did. The result is a father’s remarkable legacy of love to his son.



THE following are three out of over 80 letters featured in Dear Sebastian. They are from singer-songwriter Christy Moore, former World Snooker Champion Ken Doherty and poet, author and former Professor of Modern Literature at Trinity College Dublin, Brendan Kennelly.

CHRISTY MOORE

Dear Sebastian,

My name is Christy Moore. I am a singer. You and I have something in common. I lost my dad when I was 11. I will never forget that day, the way I felt, the things that happened.

I heard about your dad’s idea for letters. He had so much love for you to set this idea in motion.

I loved my father. I have held on to that love for many years now. Often at night, when it is dark and quiet, I remember him and the love we had. I ask him for guidance when I have a problem. I believe he watches over me and is my guiding light.

I am much older now but I still remember him clearly. Even this morning, as I write these few lines, I feel him close to me. I am looking at the photo of you and your dad on the beach with his arm on your shoulder. The love that is there will always be with you.

Today I am going to the studio to record some songs. I will sing one for you.

Sincerely, Christy Moore.

KEN DOHERTY

Dear Sebastian,

As a young boy, my father and I would watch the World Snooker Championship on BBC TV every year in awe. My father was an avid Ray Reardon fan; my favourite was Alex Higgins. When these two players contested the final in 1982, for us, as sporting spectacle, it didn’t get much better than this. My hero Alex won and thus became my inspiration to become a snooker player and professional. That same year, my father bought me a small snooker table for Christmas which gave me endless hours of fun for many days.

My father passed away the following year and unfortunately, only saw me play on that small table he purchased. He never got to see me play competitively and become World Champion in 1997. However, I always feel he’s there watching from above. I realise now that he was my real hero, not Alex Higgins, he was my real inspiration along with my mother. They gave me the opportunity to realise my dream. They taught me the values of life and hard work. They taught me how to be the best I could be without trying to be better than anyone else. They taught me the value of giving 100% and never giving up or throwing in the towel. They taught me the value of respect for others as well as myself, the value of love and friendship, honesty and morality. They taught me the value of sacrifice and hard work, that nothing comes easy, that goals achieved with little effort are seldom worthwhile.

All these things they passed on to me and I shall pass on to my own son and hope that he will listen and live by them.

I hope this can make some sense to you, Sebastian, and that your dad has passed on all the great values that he had learned during his life. I wish you well and good luck,

Yours sincerely, Ken Doherty.

BRENDAN KENNELLY

Dear Sebastian,

All I have to say to you is very simple. What­ever work you do, give it your best, put your heart and head into it.

Cherish your friends and value their companionship, their presence. Love yourself as God’s creation. Know that life is God’s gift to you, a gift you can share happily with others. And don’t be slow to give others a hug and a smile.

Every night, as you lie in bed waiting to sleep, talk to your dad and say, ‘Dear Dad, I love you’. And, dear Sebastian, may your dreams always be happy.

God bless you always,

Brendan Kennelly.

Oops! Sebastian, I nearly forgot! Balance all

your hard work with pleasure and delight. And put all your heart and head into that also.

Brendan.