The Hank Of Black Hair By Sebastian Barry

It's 1922 and in a Dublin park, Matt Kirwan is enjoying his Sunday afternoon painting a landscape when a young woman approaches his easel to watch him work.

He knows from this day forward his life will never be the same.

Liam O'Brien reads Sebastian Barry's short story.

Sebastian Barry is one of Ireland's finest and most celebrated writers. He's twice been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for his novels A Long Long Way (2005) and The Secret Scripture (2008), the latter of which won the 2008 Costa Book of the Year and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. His 2011 novel On Canaan's Side was longlisted for the Booker. Days Without End was published in 2016.

Producer: Gemma McMullan

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2016.

A chance encounter in the park is about to change Matt Kirwan's life.