New biography published of Kildare writer Aidan Higgins Reporter: A biography of a Kildare born writer, Aidan Higgins, has just been published. At the Cork World Book Festival on Saturday, April 24, the book, A Very Strange Man — A Memoir of Aidan Higgins, written by his long time partner and wife, Alannah Hopkin, was launched. Partnership The book is mostly a memoir of Aidan Higgins, but much more besides. The pair were introduced in 1986 by poet Derek Mahon in Kinsale. She was 36 and he was 59. They lived together in Kinsale. The recent book Zoom launch, comprising a discussion with Ms Hopkin and Thomas McCarthy, aided by questions from the audience, was recorded and will be available on the Festival You Tube in May.