An Irish Country Childhood: A Bygone Age Remembered

by Marrie Walsh

This is the heart-warming story of Marrie Walsh, growing up in the 1930s and 40s as part of an idyllic community in the beautiful County Mayo, West Ireland. Her memoirs take the reader to a time and a way of life now long disappeared, exploring lives that were inticately bound with the natural world in a small, close-knit farming community that was as resourceful as it was poor. Poor in worldly wealth and tied to the land but rich in love, kindness and good spirit, the people brought to life in this book are an inspiring reminder of a way of life lost in the past.

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

186 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS. I read maybe half the segments from this. It's interesting and somewhat charming, but nothing especially gripping. Reminds me of a book-version of some nice little PBS show that I would flip on while folding laundry on a Saturday morning, amusing and informative but nothing I couldn't turn off to go do something better. It is quite surprising how very "old fashioned" this seems, even though the author grew up as a contemporary of my grandparents! It's sad how much of the old world charm and culture has been obliterated in the past seventy years!

I enjoyed reading about all the Catholicism and was especially excited to learn why St. Patrick's Day is such a big deal--a saint's day replete with drinking! I suppose if I'd have thought hard enough about it, and paid attention to my calendar, I could have figured it out myself!

"There was one day in Lent that gave people a break from the harsh religious observances, and that was St. Patrick's Day. It was like a beacon shining out of the darkness. Even in the strictest times meat was allowed on this day, and those who were abstaining from the 'gargle' (poteen) were allowed to drown the shamrock. In times gone by, after the main meal of the day, the shamrock was placed in a glass of punch. A toast was drunk to the good saint, then the shamrock was removed from the glass and thrown over the left shoulder. This was also considered a lucky day to plant potatoes and was considered the first day of spring sowing..."

[Zade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this brief memoir of growing up in the 1930s and 40s in rural County Mayo, Ireland. Mrs. Walsh has a delightful way of bringing to life the people and events of her childhood. Although this way of life is now long past, reading this book makes it seem both real and probably far more charming that it really was, given the poverty and hard work her family and neighbors endured. This book reminds me quite a bit of _Little Heathens_. The lives of the authors of both books were surprisingly akin, despite the distance between their homes. This is really a delightful book full of interesting anecdotes and bits of nearly forgotten folklore and brimming with eccentric and appealing characters.

[GoldGato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful and simple book that has the Irish storytelling magic. These are real stories experienced by the author, back when Ireland was still...well, Ireland. Land of green, land of honesty, land of hardship. The author focuses on childhood delights and on homes that no longer exist.

Even with the onslaught of American consumerism in the 1990s, Ireland remains magical. Before starting with a book on pure travel, check out this one first. In Ireland, the gods are always whispering on your shoulder.


Book Season = Spring (when the earth is green)

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet memoir of growing up in rural Ireland before WWII.

[Eileen Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every page of this book, reminded me of my grandparents home in rural County Donegal. This book was set in County Mayo around 1930s and 40s the childhood of the author but related so, so much with my grandparents home in the late 60s till 1973 as they were so far behind alot of Ireland it was more like the 30s and 40s, like in the book my grandparents had a farm and lived off the land, no toilets no running water, no electricity (only got the electric in 1973) we used a well for water. milked the cows by hand, grew the food potatoes etc, highly recommend and so beautifully written, I wonder if the author is still alive last time I heard she reached 91 years of age . I found out by Google as Marrie Walsh spoke on the radio, would love to hear her broadcast but don't know how to get it

[Paula Cappa · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW: An Irish Country Childhood by Marrie Walsh

What a delightful adventure into the old days of Irish rural life. I liked this book because it’s more than a memoir and leaps into the magical elements of nature, fairies, and the value of family and community. The author’s perspectives of growing up are so vivid that I felt like was there with her in each chapter. Walsh’s descriptions of Irish food (current bread, potato cake) and family rituals will charm you. I read it in an afternoon and the escape into the gentle-hearted people, their mateship, the heritage, tales and myths bring a rewarding read. Highly recommended. Paula Cappa is an avid book reviewer and an award-winning supernatural mystery author of novels and short stories.

[Maaike · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was enjoyable - but a bit aimless. I thought it'd have a plot or story line, but instead it was just a collection of memories dealing with all aspects of daily life in a small village in Ireland at the beginning of the century. Interesting, but not quite what I'd expected of it.

[Pam Keevil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marrie describes in detail the characters and places from her childhood to create a compelling, often sad, sometimes funny account of Irish rural life in the 1930s and 1940s. The power of the natural world is evident as they hurry to get the harvest in or decide when to let the animals out to graze. Some beautiful descriptions of the mountains and the hillsides with the small cottages dotted or in the village where everyone knew everyone and all were strict followers of the Catholic religion. Each chapter is short enough to be read in a break or before bed.

[Tammy Zvodar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting stories of a past way of life.

I very much enjoyed Marrie's tales of her neighbors and village life in long ago Ireland. Grabbed my interest and made me smile from the very start.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant reminisce by a good storyteller who recounts highlights of her time in Ireland. Quite a nice telling of neighbors,tinkers, old bachelors, relatives from America, fairies ,and traditions. Enjoyable read.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mother-in-law was born in Mayo in 1926, she suggested this book as she found when she read it it was very similar to her own childhood. It was I felt an interesting read.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magical

A really lovely book of stories about living in Ireland long ago. The author's writing is so warm and lyrical, reading this was like being in a dream.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable memoir.

[Maryjo Mcandrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Katelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

a bit like 'Little House on the Prairie,' but in Ireland...very quick read, no real storyline, but decently written and not a complete waste of time

[Diana Biggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good information, already knew quite a bit about Irish history & the disgraceful actions of the British, but the book is just not my cup of tea.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Ireland of Marrie Walsh's entrancing memoir is a place of magic indeed. Born Mary Kate Ferguson in the mountain community of County Mayo, young Marrie grew up in a world lost to us today -- a world of spring wells, of peat fires, and of fairies riding on the backs of hares. Her family were farming people, and when they were not nurturing the soil they were telling stories: Spinning webs of legends and heroes around the hearthfires while fiddlers played behind them, they gave everything in her world a sense of wonder that never left her.

"Half a century later, Marrie Walsh returns to the scenes of her youth in An Irish Country Childhood, the most rich and wondrous books of its kind since Alice Taylor's To School Through the Fields. Return with with her, and you'll find a land where every neighbor was family; where hermits and bogey men and ghosts were all equally real, and equally frightening; where time, for just a moment, seemed to have stopped for a leisurely rest.

"This is not a land -- or a book -- you'll soon forget."
~~front flap

A wealth of details, and grand stories of the troubles they got into as kids, and the web of community they lived in. Unfortunately, Ms. Walsh's writing style is rather pedantic, and doesn't sing with the magic of the fields and hills, or the characters around her.

[Orion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book delivers exactly what the title indicates. The author presents an unsentimental, child's perspective of her village, with only minimal comments from the adult that she became. The book is divided into brief, easy to read chapters regarding events and/or neighbors in a County Mayo village in the 1930's and early 1940's. The culture of the village still had elements of the previous centuries; the child and her siblings do hard, manual labor on the family farm, and the villagers routinely believe in spirits. But even the child had an awareness the village traditions that were dying out; the village had not sustained its adult population for many years, most adults of working age must go to the wider world to find employment. The older people who remain generally seem old-fashioned to the child. Some cultural aspects survive, and others simply become curiosities.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marrie Walsh's memories of growing up in Ireland are so vivid I really felt like I was there. The bog's, the burning peat, the pastures and the walks through the fields. I all seemed so real while I was reading this book. Marrie also adds a map and a preface, telling you what happened to the little village where she grew up. At the time of the writing of this book, 1988, the little village was a ghost town. Only 2 families lived there. Now is is fully restored to life again. Families are moving in and restoring the old places, the children are back in the village again. I'm so glad of this, it would be a real shame to let this little village disappear.

[Kathleen Rosenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has great meaning to me as Attymas is the town that my family came from. My grandfather died when I was quite young, so I didn't get to hear all the stories. This was like listening to the stories I used to hear from the Wisconsin elders when I was a child. Because of this book, my cousin was able to track down lots of relatives that are still in the area in Ireland and we were able to meet many of them.

[Aricia Gavriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delight, bringing to mind as it did the stories told by my grandparents, who were Irish ex-pat (weren't everyone's? Like the Scots, the Irish went ... well, everywhere). Walsh paints a landscape that seems completely historical, yet is really only a century ago. I'm reminded of "The Quiet Man," always one of my favorite films.

[Your Common House Bat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book as far as biographies and auto-biographies go. I like Walsh's story telling abilities and it was a very interesting insight into a small Irish town. I loved the folklore sprinkled in there. Irish culture has always been something that has interested me.

[Jennae · Rating 3 out of 5]

It fit shat I needed as being busy with not a lot of time it was nice to read a book that each chapter was a little story/memory from her childhood in Ireland. Wouldn’t read it again, but it was an interesting book to read.

[Mikenliza · Rating 1 out of 5]

not what I thought it was going to be.

[Leslie Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable collection of recollections of a time, place and lifestyle that probably no longer exist.

[Mary Chambers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very charming! Very interesting!

[Jamie O'Naraigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved being steeped in the place and people. It's a great evocation of the times the author knew.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet stories of a village and it's people

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

The book was interesting but a little long. The author told the story well but I was losing interest by the end of the book.