Anne Ahern (49) is originally from Clondalkin, Co. Dublin, but now lives in Leixlip, Co. Kildare. Her 2 daughters have grown up and left home and her husband passed away 4 years ago. Anne started working in a hairdressing salon at age 11, and left school early to work full-time in the trade. She ran her own salon for 24 years, despite her poor literacy. Following her husband's sudden death, she feels she is starting her life all over again and wants to have her literacy problems sorted out once and for all. Anne is performing at the Dublin Book Festival as part of the RTE Written Off? Series.