Farewell to gentle giant Finn - the inspiration behind local author's books (From Penarth Times)
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Farewell to gentle giant Finn - the inspiration behind local author's books
4:40pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News
SAD GOODBYE: Cathy Farr with Finn last summer at the launch of her second novel Moon Crossing. Finn, Andreas Finneagle, February 12, 2008 – December 14, 2012.
FINN, the Irish Wolfhound, has died after a brief illness just before Christmas.
Well known around Penarth and Dinas Powys as a gentle giant, Finn was the inspiration behind author Cathy Farr’s fantasy books, Moon Chase and Moon Crossing, in which a medieval land is protected by giant hounds – Fellhounds.
The idea was developed by Cathy on her morning walks with Finn - full name Finn, Andreas Finneagle.
At 3ft at the shoulder and weighing-in at 15 stone Finn, who would have been five in February, first hit the headlines in South Wales in 2010 when he and Cathy supported the MS Society on a sponsored walk across the Cardiff Bay barrage.
The following year he and his owner made the news again when she launched her first novel, Moon Chase.
"He was just the most fantastic companion," said Cathy.
"He was the first one to hear my books – I read both of them to him while I was editing them; he was there for both book launches and used to come to school visits.
"We were even interviewed at the BBC in Llandaff once – they gave him his own microphone!
"Finn had been seriously ill back in September but survived against all the odds," she added.
"He really bounced back and even just before he died he looked great. We had very little warning but in a way that was the best thing.
"I miss him every minute but at least he will live on forever in my books."
