The Dowry: A Novel of Ireland

by Walter Keady

In 1946 rural Ireland, Brideen Conway has her heart set on Kieran McDermot, but one thing stands in the way of their union. The couple can't afford to marry, and Kieran's curmudgeonly father won't pass down the family farm. Kieran faces the unpleasant possibility of leaving Brideen behind to find his fortune in England.


Meanwhile, wealthy pub owner Austin Glynn has more than enough money to offer a substantial dowry, if only someone would take an interest in his daughter Aideen. Kieran's feckless older brother Martin volunteers to take Aideen's hand, though the rest of the village suspects he's interested more in Austin's dowry than in his daughter.


When Martin disappears after his proposal and is believed to be dead, the parish priest Father Donovan sets in motion a plot to see Brideen and Kieran wed. After all, so what if the dowry might change hands a few more times than is entirely usual, as long as the couple can tie the knot?


In The Dowry, Walter Keady spins a winsome tale in the best traditions of Irish literature, applying a wealth of charm and graceful wit to this story of love, money, and marriage.

Genres: Ireland, Fiction, Historical Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 20, 2007

About the author

Walter Keady - Curriculum Vitae
Born in County Mayo, Ireland. Grew up on a farm. Employed in the Irish Civil Service before going on to study for the Catholic priesthood. After BA at University College, Dublin, and four years study of theology at Holy Ghost Missionary College, Kimmage, ordained priest. Served as a missionary in Brazil. Resigned the priesthood and came to the United States. Worked for IBM as a software engineer. Writer, 1994 - present.
Lives in upstate New York, with wife Jennifer.

Publications:
CELIBATES AND OTHER LOVERS (1997, MacMurray & Beck),
MARY MCGREEVY (1998, MacMurray & Beck).
THE ALTRUIST (MacAdam/Cage, 2003).
THE DOWRY (St Martin’s Press, Winter 2007).
THE AGITATOR (Castletree Books, 2012)
BEING AND BECOMING (Castletree Books, 2014)
Short stories (Modern Maturity, March 1998), The Recorder (Journal of American-Irish Historical Society) 2004.

Reviews

[Bobbi Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

To "get in the mood" for our trip to Ireland, I brought this book along on our vacation to Hilton Head, SC. It's only 225 pages so it was perfect for a beach read. BUT it was not a "beach read" in the non-literary sense. It was fantastically written with an intricate, amusing plot by a former priest who was born and raised in Ireland, and moved to the United States.

It takes place in rural Ireland, 1946. The tale revolves around the country people in Coshlawn Crann (not sure if this is a real place or not). Following WWII, many Irish fled to England or America to look for work because there were not enough jobs in Ireland. This was causing problems for the Catholic parish in Coshlawn Crann--soon there would be no more students at the school if young single people were not sticking around, getting married and multiplying! One of the problems was that these young people could not afford to marry--either there was no dowry to be had or no land being handed down to them. So the priest of the parish began working on a plan to pair off the young, single people, as well as figure out a way for them to afford to marry, without emigrating to another country. Well, maybe I should say it was more of a scheme!

As the tale unravels like a tightly knit sweater, you will laugh out loud at the funny expressions (there is a glossary in the front if you get confused over the funny Irish terminology). I loved the familiar traditions in the book from my childhood ("dinner" is the noontime meal, prevalence of Catholic guilt, etc.) and the beautiful Irish names (Brideen, Aideen, etc...). One of my favorite quotes in the book makes reference to how fast the gossip travels in this rural Irish countryside--something to the effect of "they say that all households will have a telephone within the next ten years but that won't be needed in Coshlawn Crann!"

I give this book a triple THUMBS UP! It made me laugh and smile at a time I really needed a great book with a happy ending. It will stay with me for a long time!

[Sharon Ouderkirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful comic novel set in 1946 Ireland, when times were tough, and few people had the money to get married. In this small village, several couples are willing, but lack the necessary funds. There is one rich man, the publican Austin Glynn, who would love to marry his daughter off - he has the money, but she does not have the suitors.
Father Donovan takes a scheming hand to make Austin's money stretch to several willing couples. He is trying to prevent mass emigration of the young people to England, and populate his own Irish village.
I found the plot to be like an Irish version of a Shakespeare wedding play. There were fools aplenty, along with sympathetic couples in love. Highly recommended for a good laugh in these sad times.

[asra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in rural Ireland during the 1940s. Marriage is on every young couple’s mind, however none of them can afford it. The main characters, Kieran and Brideen, have to meet to two conditions: 1) Kieran has to acquire the farm that his older brother's supposed to inherit (according to tradition), and 2) Kieran’s older sister has to get married and leave home before he does. Numerous couples are in the same bind and their fates become intertwined when a local priest concocts a roundabout scheme of match-making where one dowry ends up taking on the value of three. Quick, fun story. The twists and turns that stem from the tangled web of relationships are pretty amusing. The backdrop offers a glimpse into Irish culture and traditions around the time of World War II.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I am related to Irish Catholics, I wanted to read this book to understand a bit more of their background. (Also, Bobbi recommended it strongly!) Set in post world war II Ireland, the novel is based on the tough economic times which made getting married and supporting a family nearly impossible. A young priest hatches a plot to ensure that young couples who might otherwise emigrate stay in the small Irish town and continue the style of life they'd grown up with. The author is a former priest, so I assume that his description of the struggles of the fictional priest are realistic. The young couple are engagingly described and story is clever. This was a fun and educational read.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 1946 in County Mayo and the well-meaning local priest wants to help the older young people in his congregation get married and stay in Ireland rather than go work in London or emigrate to America. His methods are unorthodox and depend on everyone following the plan to the letter, but everyone else has their own plans as well.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed an easy, fun read for a change. My wife recommended The Dowry. It fit the bill. This clever, slightly scandalous rural comedy reminded me of the movie The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain. Lots of charming characterizations. The humor is understated, and the plot delivers a few fun twists.

[April Suter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comical little novel about post WWII Ireland. Father Donovan wants the single men and women to stay in Ireland, get married and have children to make their country the fine country it really is. So how can couples get married when there isn't any money. A plan is set to use a dowry and hand it down from couple to couple. Read the book to see if Father's plan really works.

224 pages

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've discovered that the Irish have a different sense of humor than Americans.

In Ireland, where everyone is struggling financially,the priest manipulates all he can to see certain couples marry. The dowry bounces around to fulfill more than one couple toward happiness.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read. Plenty of stock characters - lusty young maidens, well-meaning but clueless priests, curmudgeonly old guys, religious old women, etc. But a sweet story, for all that!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always looked forward to this book as I headed up to bed. It was a real authentic look at Irish life and culture and it was a fun (if silly) plot. An enjoyable, light read.

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just kept waiting for it to get better. . it did not.

[Kent · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK book, just a breezy throwaway novel, no moral, nothing heavy, just a droll little read about Irish families plotting marriages and dowries in post-WWII Ireland

[Nancy Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

learned that the Irish traditionally married late due to primogenature in the rural areas, and the lack of jobs.

[Rosemary]

Well written and very readable. I will look for other books by this author, as it is rare for me to enjoy a modern author's style.

[Martine Taylor]

Charming read about couples in Ireland who want to marry - but can't because of money, and how it all works out for the best in the end with a little help from the local priest.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet light-hearted novel of Ireland.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novel about post WWII Ireland where couples cannot afford to get married. A local priest steps in to help a dowry get passed around so 4 couples can wed.

[Bobbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fun story, even though I expected a few more twists. Also, I would rate it PG-13 for language and sexual content.

[Julie Waterhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming, light read, written with humour. I enjoyed it.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

UNDERRATED