I really enjoyed reading this memoir of life in Ireland before modern conveniences arrived. Marrie Walsh was born in the small village of Attymass in County Mayo in 1929. This book chronicles her childhood up until she left Ireland for England in 1946.
Marrie was the ninth child born to the family. They farmed what little arable land they had and kept cattle on shared land. The children kept watch on the cattle so they didn’t stray into other family’s portions. The children went to school at a Catholic school but their real life seems to have been out on the land. Marrie talks about the mountains and the bogs and the small streams in a way that shows she loved the land. She also describes all the diverse people that lived in their village most of whom she loved. The paranormal was more than superstition to Marrie and the rest of the village. Ghosts were frequently heard and sometimes seen; witches could turn people into stone; people still disappeared from time to time. All this existed side by side with the teachings of the Catholic church and didn’t seem to conflict. No doubt life was hard but Marrie and the other children seemed to have loved their life.
The information at the front of the book mentions that Marrie was working on a further memoir about her life after leaving Attymass. I would love to read it too. ( )

Such a wonderful and simple book that has the Irish storytelling magic. These are real stories experienced by the author, back when Ireland was still...well, Ireland. Land of green, land of honesty, land of hardship. The author focuses on childhood delights and on homes that no longer exist.

Even with the onslaught of American consumerism in the 1990s, Ireland remains magical. Before starting with a book on pure travel, check out this one first. In Ireland, the gods are always whispering on your shoulder.


Book Season = Spring (when the earth is green) ( )