It's a Long Way from Penny Apples

by Bill Cullen

Tis better to be born lucky than rich....

There are many ways to confront tragedy and hard times. Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt's tragic--and ultimately uplifting--tale of how one man overcame adversity and found happiness in the New World is a compelling story that has touched thousands of readers.

It's a Long Way from Penny Apples is another view of the Irish experience, another man's journey out of the grinding poverty that held an entire generation of Irishmen in its thrall.

Poverty and its ills can rend a family apart and ruin countless lives, leaving individuals on their own to find their way, if they can, out of that despair and on to a new life. But not every family gives in to defeat. Sometimes the choice is to not leave anyone behind... and out of that love, a family can come together, using all their talents to bring all of their loved ones to a better place.

Bill Cullen was lucky enough to have one such family. Born and bred in the rough inner city slums of Summerhill in Dublin, Bill was one of fourteen children. Selling on the streets from the age of six, be it fruit, flowers, newspapers, Christmas decorations, football colors, or programs, was a means of putting food on the table for Bill and his family. He finished school at thirteen to go on the street fulltime. In 1956 Bill got a job as a messenger boy for a pound a week at Waldens Ford Dealer in Dublin.

Through hard work and unrelenting determination, Bill was appointed director general of the company, in 1965. Bill went on to set up the Firlane Motor Company which became the biggest Ford dealership in Ireland. In 1986 he took over the troubled Renault car distribution franchise from Waterford Crystal. His turnaround of that company into what is now the Glencullen Group is a business success story-the group now has an annual turnover of 250 million.
Bill Cullen's story is an account of incredible poverty and deprivation in the Dublin slums. It highlights the frustration of a father and mother feeling their relationship crumble as they fight to give their children a better life. It's a story of courage, joy, and happiness--of how a mother gave inspiration and values to her children, saying to them, "The best thing I can give you is the independence to stand on your own feet."

It's a Long Way from Penny Apples is nothing less than a modern-day Horatio Alger story, told with humor and love; a heartwarming tale of redemption and overcoming adversity by one of the most famous self-made men in Ireland

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Irish Literature, Ireland

384 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2001

Reviews

[Janet Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

From selling apples on the streets of Dublin in the 1950's to owning a company with a turnover of 250 million pounds, Bill Cullen tells his story and the story of the indomitable woman who made him the man he is today. Wonderful reading and very inspiring.

[Andrew Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Bill Cullen's life story, I realized how fortunate I am to be healthy and have the family I do. Growing up into incredible poverty as a child, Cullen's parents worked tedious hours to put food on the table each night, living in the slums of Dublin, Ireland. After witnessing their struggles and relationship deteriorate, Bill knew it was time to provide as much as he could for his family. Through determination and hard work, Cullen began selling newspapers, apples, and flowers on the streets, which brought him a long way in life. Learning the ropes in the business world each day, he strived in his sales, meeting new people which guided him to the top. As he grew older in the end, he wound up becoming a multimillionaire owning the largest Ford dealership in Ireland; a long way from penny apples.

[Sheri S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Bill Cullen and his family is inspiring and lends itself well to the idea that hard work is rewarded. I appreciated how Bill (known throughout the book as Liam) and his mother were determined to work through and conquer any problem placed before them. Failure was never an option to the Cullen family. It was interesting to read about Ireland and the problems they faced leading up to and after WWII. Neighbors really seemed to look after one another and organizations provided ways of nurturing the young through sports and similar practices. (On the flip side, the book mentions schools and churches where very damaging things were being done to boys...incredibly sad and maddening.) Overall, this is a great book and Bill Cullen is a truly inspiring figure!

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favourite books. Read this book about 10 years ago, plan to resurrect it. Have been lucky to meet Bill a few times and what you read and see is what you get. We live in a world of BS and pretentious marketing, its nice to read an authentic irish success story during hard times. Also for those in the motor industry its an interesting insight into the industry in the 70s and 80s.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always liked biographies that read like a novel. And this book is a biography in a novel format and it really made the story flow; not that much help was needed there. The author really does have that Irish gift of the gab.

Life was certainly hard for Bill Cullen and his family. But it was wonderful to read how they, and their community, pulled together to get through the hard times in the tenements of Dublin. Cullen used all he learned from his childhood to pull himself up in the world.

[Kris Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Liam growing up in Dublin Ireland, in the 1940's and 1950's - poor, Catholic, the oldest son in a family of 13 children. How strong, adapting, loving and kind they are. Its always good to be reminded how life has changed in the last 80 years.

Page 258 - Mother, a wise mom, always said to Liam "You'll never meet a man better than yourself. Do your best at everything."

The first part of this biography was definitely a four star -- the last third probably a three star. I enjoyed reading about Liam's childhood life more than his adult career. Anyone who is of Irish decent should definitely read this bio.

[Ellè · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of tough read to start off with but I wanted to push through for the Cullen story. It was a interesting read to get some of Dublin history and insight into the less wealthy families of the time. I also enjoyed reading the changes throughout the years in the city and all the progression in Liam/Willum/Bill’s career. A aspect I struggled with was the use of so many Irish terms i.e lingo, street names and general names as there were so many people along the way but it felt like a rewarding and pleasant book by the end :)

[Jacqueline Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I hope Bill Cullen doesn't write another novel as no way could it be as amazing as "It's a long way from penny apples"! Couldn't put it down, so honest, insightful and motivating. Bill Cullen is a shrewd cookie and I applaud him.

[Shauna Doherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story overall but I honestly found it very long and had to read in small chunks I usually go through these types of books very quickly just not this one there was a huge amount of information in it and it definitely deserves to be read carefully and information absorbed from it

[Hang Mangpahang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story !! After reading this book i watched the movie 'the wind that shakes the barley' and 'Michael Collins' It was great knowing the irish history and the ups&downs of the Bill cullen's life..

[Msa Faleni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bill's account of life in Ireland is a lighter account compared to Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes.

[Stephen Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful book and look into the world of Dublin 30's upwards.

[Sonie Mervis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the younger Liam but not so much when he became very successful. Very dedicated to his family and worked hard to help support them.

[Liane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Great story but a bit repetitive. Loved seeing the results of the family’s hard work.

[Linda Mcgurrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, set in Dublin 1950’s , great record of history, reminded me of my roots

[Chitra Muralikrishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply brilliant book and I enjoyed every bit of the writing. Wonderful and motivating for the younger generation.. Awesome. It's a book for keeps.

[Donald · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to give up on this book. Tedious writing.

[Jane McCooey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it so much 💚

[EchoHouseLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The very first thing about this book is the quote on the front cover:
"Penny Apples is a book I just couldn't put down! Finally we get to read a story of inspiration to counterbalance the exquisite pain in Angela's Ashes. I cheered the courage and spirit that flowed from these recollections." ~ Dr. Denis Waitley
I'm very sorry that Dr. Denis Waitley felt this was the way to praise the book in hand. It immediately rubbed me the wrong way. Angela's Ashes deserves the acclaim it has received, it is an exquisite book, magnificently written and it touched me deeply the summer I read it. So, I started off reading with a little defensive feeling in me.
For many pages I was feeling forgiving. This is a good story in the beginning, told with a depth and breadth of details that bring you right to the authentic moment, very human, and spanning pivotal moments in the bigger picture. The people (can't call them characters, they are real and you feel that) are quirky enough to know them, care for them...the elder generations obviously strong and determined but set apart as the times change. The deeper into the book I got though, or perhaps it was when I was coming out of the center, I started to feel the "inspiration"...oh, yes, that's what it is...the "look where I came from, how hard I worked and how much money I earned" story. UGH. I despise those stories usually. I will give the author credit that he stayed a good human it appears...visited his family and was generous but I have the distinct feeling that some parts got left out in order to fit in all the details about how hard he worked, how many hours he put in, how many accolades he received.
It's a Long Way from Penny Apples is really a good story, and it's worth the read for the details about food and traditions and creative ways of making it through tough spots but don't be expecting another Angela's Ashes.

[Petersong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of the well-known and successful Irish businessman, Bill Cullen. As a child and young adult Cullen lived in the tough inner-city area of Summerhill in Dublin. This area is very close to where my mother-in-law, Lena, grew up.

According to the Irish times "this book celebrates the dirt-poor, the stinking, toilet-in-the-yard, fresh-water-from-the-bucket, recycled tea leaves, coddle-on-the-fire, bacon-lard-on-stale-bread world from where people such as Bill Cullen came. Recycled newspapers could be added to this. It was used in all sorts of ways but primarily for being cut up and used as toilet paper.

At the start of this autobiography I learned that Dublin was bombed by the Germans in 1941 even though Ireland was a declared neutral country during Word War II. Some thought that a mistake was made by the Germans but later it was discovered that Hitler commanded the bombings as a pay-back and lesson to Ireland for it providing fire trucks and support to Belfast following the earlier bombings there.

Cullen believes that he was conceived the very night of the bombings. Ironically, my wife's grandmother was believed to have suffered a miscarriage that night.

In spite of having to miss many days of school to help his family to make ends meet, Cullen did relatively well at school. As it turned out, the "school" that had the greatest impact on Cullen's career was the time he spent trading on the streets with his mother, Mary, and grandmother, Molly who was known as Mother Darcy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone interested in Ireland's history and the makings of a successful businessman.

[Helene · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the Cullen family is the ultimate example of ubuntu in the inner-city Dublin of the forties and fifties. Ubuntu is a Southern African concept which, in it's simplest form, means 'human kindness' based on the principle of 'I am because we are'. We are not merely individuals, but we create each other and must therefore sustain each other. I can ask you for a cup of sugar, because next week you will need tea, which I will give, even if it's me last leaves.

The story follows Bill (Liam) Cullen's life on the street, helping the Ma earn the survival money for a family of 12 children, for the Da's wages at Brooks Thomas - though he brought every penny home all his life - was never enough. In this harsh world on the street, he learns the basic principles of business and ubuntu in equal measure from the two most important women in his life - Mary Darcy, his mother, and Molly ('Mother') Darcy, his maternal grandmother.

Combined with his own ingenuity, these life lessons eventually enables him to take over the once mighty, but then virtually bankrupt Smith Group, who, amongst other lines of business, owned the Renault franchise in Ireland.

A heart-warming account of the magic that is cultivated within huge families in dire circumstances.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bill Cullen's story was very interesting. He compares the book to Angela's Ashes but his story is different in that his family was very resourceful and much less selfish. Bill Cullen learned how to sell and market his grandmother's apples and other wares at a young age and it led him to becoming an auto mogul in Ireland in later life. He writes in third person which is often kind of weird knowing he wrote the book. It's a quick read; his family lived in difficult times always bettering their lives and mostly because of the extended family working together were they able to survive and eventually prosper.

[Coralie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent book about a man who grew up poor in Dublin, Ireland and became a hugely successful automobile dealer as an adult. This book has been compared to "Angela's Ashes", but Bill Cullen has a different story. The big difference between his family and Frank McCourt's - Bill's father was a complete non-drinker and never even allowed alcohol in the house. Although there were nine children in the family, everyone worked and supported each other. The kids may not have had much, but they had enough food to eat and clothes on their backs, and it was because their parents worked so hard.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rereading! I started reading this 4 yrs ago while I was taking care of my mama (I love you so!) and then, not knowing I was in the middle of it, she gave the book away! I watched it walk out the door, desperate because I was dying to finish it but alas, it was gone. I was enjoying the story so much, anticipating the conclusion with great expectation.. and now I can do so!
I can't believe I've got it in my hands again! *big-grin* I inquired about it at the library a few weeks ago and the librarians ordered it. :) I told my girls that it felt like Christmas standing there waiting for the book to be put in my hot, waiting paws! :D Woohoo! O' Happy Day!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book, about the life of successful businessman Bill Cullen. I enjoyed that it was written in third person, and he had some very entertaining, insightful and at times poignant stories of growing up in inner city Dublin in the mid 1900s. To have come from so little and build such a successful life took a lot of hard work and dedication, and after reading this book I have discovered a lot more about him and have great respect for him. Not a book I would have chosen for myself but I'm very glad it was chosen for the book club and that I had the chance to read it.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was described as the opposite to Angela's Ashes, we of course all know the famous opening lines to this story "Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood." I think Bill wanted to highlight that the Irish childhood was not all that bad and bring to life some vivid strong characters.
He did and the first three quarters of the book I really enjoyed however the last quarter got a bit big headed I felt and lost its charm. I gave it a four for the first quarter.

[Leonid Bronfentrinker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this was an entertaining read however I felt it was quite slow for about 3/4 of the book and then way too fast and very light on detail for the last 1/4 of the book when Cullen skips from decade to decade. I would have liked to have read more about Cullen's days in the business world as that is where I found this book most interesting. Not knowing Cullen's story or that of war torn Ireland made this book an eye opener.

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and I think it gives a good insight into ups and downs of Irish history as well as giving you good tips on running a business. Each chapter gives you individual acounts of thing that he learned form his Grandmother (Mother Darcy)and other people in his life, some of the storys are really funny and it is hard to believe that they are true.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring, funny and true heartening story of Bill Bullen, who rose from selling penny apples and anything else he could lay his hands on in his impoverished youth to head the largest car franchise in Ireland. Lessons of entrepreneurship, salesmanship, perseverance, positivity and love of family, homeland and Savior.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A facinating history of Dublin life through the eyes of one man and his family. A story of loyalty, hard work and kicking against the traces. I can't say I enjoyed it as it is not that kind of book but I found it very interesting and learned a lot about the history of the age.
I expect anyone with Irish heritage would love this book especially of they are from Dublin.