That's Just How It Was - Hardcover

Thorpe, Mary

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1491889861 ISBN 13: 9781491889862

Publisher: AuthorHouse UK, 2014

Synopsis

This work is a labour of love by the writer Mary Thorpe as a tribute to her much loved Granny O'Rourke (nee Nolan) in an attempt to place the stories she heard and was told into a true and historical context. As a social worker who came across many cases of social deprivation in modern times, in the various Social Work Departments in which she worked in the South East and North West of England, Mary had the dawning realisation regarding what her own Grandmother had been through in even harder times in the late part of the Nineteenth Century and early part of the Twentieth Century in Ireland and sought to record this. Mary felt the driving need to record her much loved grandmother's story as recognition of Bridget's harsh life and also as a tribute to her and the millions of others like her who made the best of things whilst still retaining a sense of pride, of the worth of education as a ticket out of poverty and of the importance of retaining one's dignity and commitment to family through good and bad times. Mary acknowledges that Bridget possessed the old Irish good luck as well, in marrying a 'good man' and in gaining the "sponsorship" of her patron-N. Stanislav Murphy. Within the telling of Bridget's story however, Mary is also writing about an era of tough times and she acknowledges 'these roots' as the make-up of her own resilient, Irish character. She is proud of her grandmother's achievements especially with regard to the life chances Bridget was able to create for her family, and rightly so! Mary uses the life of Bridget to celebrate the achievements of other women in Dublin and Bray, in fact from all over Ireland, in this era, and as such, this story will be of interest to anyone with Irish ancestry. Mary hopes her readers will enjoy the mix of history and biography as an authentic record of times past and that this will be an addition to Celtic history from an empathetic and homespun point of view. Mary clearly believes that 'our roots' are as important just as 'our word is our bond'.

About this title

About the Author:

Mary Thorpe (Author) was born and raised in Wolfetone Sq. West Bray Co Wicklow Ireland.  She was the middle one of five children of Patrick and Lolly Kavanagh (nee O'Rourke.)   She grew up knowing everyone in Wolfetone , she has many happy memories of playing with her school friends and picking primroses for her Mam and Granny from Sammy Johns River.  She attended St Patricks National School where she gained a Cert of Education at aged 14years. She worked in a lot of Factory Jobs until she met and married her husband Ian Thorpe in England; they then went on to have five children of their own.

When Mary was 41years old she made the decision to return to education and undertook a course of Study in Langley College Berkshire. Having then gained the relevant qualification to gain entry into University, she applied for and was accepted onto a University Course studying the Social Sciences which included Social Work, and Higher Education.

On completion of the University course Mary was appointed to a SW Post in Harrow, then moving onto a more permanent position in Hertfordshire, before being promoted to a Health and Social Care Co-ordinator Post. Mary worked in Oxhey/ Rickmansworth/Abbotts Langley/ Watford area Offices as a Social Worker and then as a Health and Social Care Co-Ordinator based in Oxheys GP Surgery covering all of the GP Surgeries in the same areas.   When her husband and Mother died in 1997 she moved North to Preston to be near her daughter. She was than appointed as a Social Worker in Blackpool and was then appointed to a Senior Social Worker Position in Blackpool. Mary retired in October 2010

Mary now lives in Preston Lancashire near her daughter and her Family, and with her youngest son Ian.

About this edition

• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1491889861
• ISBN 13: 9781491889862
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 276