"I awoke to this world on a snowy March afternoon in 1964, thrusted into the bowels of Glenbryn, Ardoyne. It was a peaceful almost tranquil place in those days where religion was never mention. Then in 1969 it was to be in the eye of the storm." For over 30 years the Troubles of Northern Ireland was headline news around the world. Nearly every family in the province was touched by some type of the violence; whether it be bombing, shooting, rioting, kidnapping. Many, many innocent people suffered. In the midst of those children being born into the conflict Andrew (Andy) Beattie was born. Raised in one of the most dangerous areas in Belfast he sought like any other child to stay alive and that norm was.

barricades across the street, hooded gunmen, staying away from 'the other side, ' it was safer not to enter that community. In this remarkable book Andrew takes the darkness of yesterdays and brings light through them in his poetry of The Permeation of Tears.