Ballylin: Memories of Life in a Small Irish Village

by Joan Comiskey

Joan Comiskey grew up in the house attached to her grandmother’s pub/grocery in a small rural village in southern Ireland in the 1930s. In this collection of sprightly-told, light-hearted, and seamlessly interwoven vignettes, she brings to life some of the special characters, places, events, and experiences in what the guidebooks of the time labeled an “insignificant” little town on the way to Dublin.
Written in a style that captures the innocence, insights, and endurance of youth, the stories reveal the “specialness” in the mundane and the significance in the “insignificant,” touching, however subtly, heart, mind, and soul.

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 16, 2014

Reviews

[Telps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by a friend of mine. It gives an insight into life in a small rural community. It was an interesting read. I discovered much about my friend and have a new appreciation and respect for her. I would recommend this book to those who are Irish, those who love the country of Ireland and those who are wondering about life in a small, rural community.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Dad recommended this book to me because it was very similar to his own experiences in Ireland in the 1930s and 40s. Not easy being a child.