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White-lettered black covers with early illustration of St. Fanahan's Well to front and author photo to back, black lettered white spine. 327 pp. The author, nee Maura O?Dea, is well known in Ireland as the founder of the single mothers? support and campaigning organisation Cherish (now One Family), becoming a familiar figure on TV and radio during the 1970s, and intermittently ever since. Her account of becoming a single parent Two to Tango (1981) was a best seller. In 1983, now in England, she began writing the present book but failing to find a publisher set it aside, concentrating on becoming a Counsellor. Her close friend, Nigel Suckling, well known for his many books on myths, folk-lore and science fiction art, was so impressed he, with Liam McCann, organised this private publication. It is a fictionalised account of the turbulent lives of the Mitchelstown Barry family, based on the author?s own, along with those of their many friends, from the 1890s to early 1940s (when the main narrative both begins and ends) and the local impacts of the independence struggle and civil war. It begins though with a bitter brief account of the Famine and how one son survived it, followed shortly after by a hilarious account of how St. Fanahan?s Well came to be where it is, its role in the town?s life being a recurring theme throughout, as well as being a metaphor for the work?s deeper goal of invoking the origins of modern Mitchelstown. Written in the author?s intuitive and entertaining shanachie oral story-telling style, familiar to all who know her, able to span the emotional spectrum, with few literary pretensions (overtly at least). A blend of family history, social history, and amusing anecdotes this will especially appeal to all interested Mitchelstown, County Cork, Irish history and folk-lore, as well as those wanting to hear Maura?s voice in full flow again, as never before. 21 cm x 30 cm (A4 format). 1.25 kg unpacked. Seller Inventory # 013276
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