A Lucky Irish Lad

by Kevin O'Hara

Kevin O’Hara recreates his boyhood with these wonderful stories of growing up in Massachusetts in the 1950s and 60s as one of eight children. His parents, born in Ireland, came to this country for their children’s sake. His family struggled against grinding poverty but they never gave up and never lost their faith that God had a plan for them.
Kevin learned the lessons of making do and making things last, and what the true riches of the world good health and the love of a united family. All these lessons grounded him as he reached adulthood…and was sent off to fight in wilds of Vietnam as a reluctant solider.
This book will tug at your heart and make you cry tears of both sorrow and joy. It is a story about the Irish-American experience but it is much more--it’s the story of a generation growing up in the shadow of the Second World War and the start of a new age of hope and promise, a time when people believed that anything was possible as long as you dared to dream and had faith in yourself.
And a little Irish luck couldn’t hurt either.

Genres: Memoir, Irish Literature, Nonfiction, Biography

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Jane Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charming book! Brings back fond memories for me as Kevin (Lucky/pinky/shirts) was born just ahead of me in the town of Ipswich where I was born. Kevin shares his experiences growing up in a large Catholic family that immigrates to the East coast in the US. Being Protestant I learned a lot about the Catholic religion as well as Irish culture. I even found myself frequently reading the book with an Irish accent in my mind! Kevin's early memoirs were filled with childhood innocence, spiritual growth, childhood pranks, and family traditions. I loved the fact that Kevin confessed his sins to the old, deaf priest when he was particularly misbehaving! He lost me a little when he described his life as a caddy as I am not a golfer but I still enjoyed it. Kevin's book made me smile and I thank him for sharing his wonderful childhood with me! Fitting that I should finish reading it on St. Patrick's day!

[Daniel Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like stories and anecdotes about Irish life in the US this may be the book for you. Very sweet recollections of growing up in an Irish Catholic family in Pittsfield, MA. It did not hold my interest though so I only read about half of it.

[Silly Mama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only read part of the book out of respect to our book club. However, I found that if you are not Catholic - or went to a Catholic school - you may not relate. I did not relate. Sitting through the discussion was like going to someone else's family reunion.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin O’Hara writes of Irish culture with humor and warmth. Always delightful.

[Ellen Evanoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Irish (themed) book club just finished this book and we all loved it. It was an enjoyable walk through memory lane reading about Kevin's family and his childhood growing up in an Irish Catholic immigrant family in Pittsfield, MA in the 1950s and 60s. The book gives us a personal view of the times. Parents could be strict. Religion was seriously practiced (this was not a "cafeteria Catholic" family!) Post partum depression was a word not yet coined. Nuns at school could be bullies, but some could be sweet and a real example of self sacrifice and have a clear understanding of what matters in the world. Club initiations were not yet felonies. Young men faced the threat of being sent to war involuntarily. It makes you realize how much has changed in the last 60 years.
The book also looks at the tough choices taken, emigrating from one's native country, choosing a non-traditional job and having a large family, and how these choices affected the family members.

[janet Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Kevin O'Hara's first book, "Last of the Donkey Pilgrims" and wasn't disappointed with this one, even though it was very different. "A Lucky Irish Lad" is a series of short stories strung together to form a memoir of his life, from birth to about 1973, as a member of a large Irish family that immigrated to Pittsfield, Mass. in the US when he was a young child in the early 50s. Kevin is a great storyteller and an unusual character who writes with a mixture of humor, candor and poignance and is not afraid to show himself in a less that flattering light at times! Also, having grown up in the US just a few years behind Kevin, it was nostalgic for me to read about a time in America that I remember and was very different from today.

This book is the Irish-American equivalent to Neil Simon's play/movie "A Bronx Tale" and would make an equally good movie.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and was sad when it came to an end. I wanted to read more about Kevin, his family and his life as he grew into adulthood. This was set in my era, with Kevin being 5 years older than me, and the references to the events taking place in the world brought me back to my own childhood and adolescence. My grandparents were from Ireland, so I am another generation removed from the emigration experience, but nonetheless could relate to so many of Kevin's experiences growing up Irish. I also grew up in Massachusetts so could relate on that level as well. Kevin is a brilliant storyteller, laying everything on the table, both good and bad, for the reader to digest. I highly recommend this book!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting reading a book by an author who shared the same last name as myself, and grew up in the same hometown as my father. All in all, it was a great read-- funny, touching and with just enough self-conscious scolding to make it a worthwhile read for anyone who considers themselves Irish American.

[Karin A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful read. I can relate to his devout Irish Catholic upbringing and the guilt put on a child growing up in the late 50s and 60s. I laughed out loud when he was marched around the classroom to show off his shamrock badge from Ireland. I connected on many levels. The author grew up in Massachusetts to add to our connection.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an entertaining book. Like the author, I grew up in the 50's and 60's in an Irish Catholic family. In the suburbs west of Boston, not in western MA. Yet, the similarities are many. Kevin O'Hara's writing brought back so many unrealized memories of my childhood. A flashback to "The Wonder Years".

[Taunya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading the antics and history of a regular American. Not famous or even particularly talented, but just someone who cherishes his own childhood and history enough to share it. it was a fun book that made me laugh and made me think of some of my own adventures.

[John Mulholland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book if you grew up during this time period. I did so I enjoyed the book.

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, fast reading, I just wish he had written more about what happened to his entire family. More on their lives and his parents. Otherwise it was quite interesting.

[Mary Meachem]

Excellent a real fun book about an Irish family life in the fourty and fifties

[Readersaurus]

Kevin presented at our library this week and was very well received by our patrons. He and his wife were friendly and delightful -- Looking forward to reading this book!

[Heidi]

Didn't even finish it. Wasn't very gripping.