One Belfast Boy

by Patricia McMahon, Alan O'Connor (Photographer)

Eleven-year-old Liam Leathem lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He happens to be Catholic, but his story might be the same no matter what his religion. He has never known a Protestant person in all his life. In Northern Ireland the Protestant and Catholic children live on separate sides of the "peace walls" - high walls dividing neighborhoods, built to help keep the peace. Liam's greatest joy in life is boxing. He spends nearly all his free time at the Holy Trinity Boxing Club, where he trains with his coaches and other young boxers. Despite the presence of tension and conflict around him, the sound of military helicopters whirring overhead, and the sight of soldiers in the street, Liam tries to live his life without being drawn into the conflict. In both pictures and words, McMahon and O'Connor have captured the innocence of a childhood lived in the shadow of a violence handed down for generations.

Genres: Nonfiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published March 26, 1999

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patricia McMahon tells through photos and lots of text about the every day life of a Catholic boy who is growing up in Belfast during "the Troubles," the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. McMahon gives a bit of context and some maps to help readers understand life as a child growing up in such an uneasy time. At the time it was published in 1999, "the Troubles" were more of a part of life in Northern Ireland and it was meant to inform readers about what it was like to be a child in this different part of the world and different situations. Nearly 20 years later, the book is a bit dated in that childhood in Northern Ireland likely looks a lot different. Nevertheless, this is a useful and interesting resource in learning about this significant part of Northern Irish history.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book were impressively sophisticated - for example, at one point, the political implications of the choice of hymns sung at Liam's school are unpacked. All in all, a grim portrait of life under the sway of the thuggish 'hard men.'

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Belfast Boy by Patricia McMahon, photographs by Alan O'Connor - This book was recommended by my assistant after we had a conversation about Middle-East conflict.