Galway Bay

Great book to read. The book arrived in very good condition! Thanks

This is a must read for anyone who wants to get a better understanding of the struggles of the Irish during the 1800s. Not only did they face famine, death, loss of land and Irish citizenship and persecution because of their Catholic religion in Ireland they also faced the same discrimination for those who were exiled from Ireland on slave ships and those who escaped death from famine in Ireland here in America. This book depicts the determination against all odds of the Irish to survive and to save their country and to become proud Americans— to fight for their new country during the Civil war. This book brings to light the struggles of the Irish and other nationalities who were discriminated against because of their nationalities and the problems they faced gaining employment and even housing for their basic needs. In many ways their struggles were more severe than the slaves as they had no housing, food nor employment. Many escaped or were deported from Ireland only to die on the slave ships/ or floating coffins or to die from the harshness of the land. An excellent book for those who insist that they want reparations due to slavery. Oddly enough those reparations woul rely on taxes collected from thousands/ maybe millions of Irish immigrant Descendants who faced the same harsh discrimination that the slaves endured.

Reaffirmed all the old Irish stories told to me as a child. We are truly an amazing people!

This was a book that held my interest from beginning to end. Prior to reading the book, I only knew of the potato famine, but had no idea how the famine actually crept into the fields in the fog, killing everything instantly. I also did not realize the extent of the cruelty of the landlords, the rent schemes and the total devastation of land and the starvation of almost an entire people.Ms. Kelly's thorough research hammered home the point on how truly horrible life was in the mid 19th century in Ireland. It is amazing that more people did not die.The book got even more interesting for me when the family arrived in Chicago. Being from the city myself, I could really connect with the locations.The language and descriptions were rich. The characters were interesting and came alive through the pages of the book.If I have one criticism at all is that it was just a little too convenient for the first they met in Chicago, knew their relative Patrick Kelly. It was also pretty predictable to have the sister's first employer not pay her. And I felt that the author was almost frantic to include almost every character in Chicago history and have them be a part of the Kelly family. How likely would it be for an immigrant clerk to have a great job with Potter Palmer and know Marshall Field? There were just too many of those little incidents. And probably being from the city, I noticed it more than someone not from Chicago.All in all though, I just flew threw the pages, learning and enjoying this very fascinating historical work of fiction.

I liked this book so much that I bought another copy to send to a friend. I'd forgotten I'd purchased this book some years back and ran across it in my bookcase and decided it would be a good time to read it. The author quickly had me under her spell and, I confess, there were many times when I'd sneak another a few pages instead of doing housework. The narrative is constructed in an admirable way in which the characters are placed in historical events and in places where the action is. I thought I knew a lot about the history of early Chicago but this book expanded that understanding. I would recommend this book to anyone, not just someone of Irish heritage.

This is an incredible book, and incredible series of books! Why is it not on audible? I need to share this with my Irish cousins, but if they don’t have it on audio their busy lives don’t have much luxury for reading such deep, rich books! Please release an audio version, or I’m going to have to record myself reading it again to send it to my cousins.

Wow! If you have any interest in Ireland--its people, its history, its legends, its superstitions, its culture--read this book. Author Mary Pat Kelly has infused a solid historical recounting of the 1840s potato blight and resulting famine into a page-turner of a novel. Focusing primarily on one family, beginning in the "before times" and continuing through the devastating and deadly famine and the resulting flight to "Amerikay," this book is a testament to the strength and courage of so many young Irish--especially women--who gave up everything to begin a new life. And that new life was not an easy one.I credit the author for developing three-dimensional characters and a plot that has some unexpected developments.One caveat: The first part of the book is a bit hokey. I almost stopped reading because it was too unbelievable, and I feared the rest of the book would be similar. I'm so glad I didn't give up! The first part showed the joy and innocence of the "before times," which is essential to fully appreciating the horrors to come.

I love historical fiction, especially Irish historical fiction. Like any true Irish person, I've always been fascinated by the history of our island, often feeling emotions of saddness, anger, pride and joy when reading our stories. This book, although not as gruesome as other Famine stories I've read, does portray a true picture of what life was like for some families and communities during that time. The author does a good job in making you feel connected to Honoura, like you're on the journey with her. I love the fact it was her own family's history she told as well. At the end, I shed a tear because the sentiment was that strong. I enjoyed this book very much and will be looking into more of Mary Pat Kelly's books.

I found I could not put this book down after the first few pages. It was utterly riveting. I smiled. I cried. I held my breath, as I went on this incredible journey with Honora, and followed her and Máire and their brood to America. Mary Pat has a powerful storytelling gift and she wraps you up in the characters' lives and emotions. So much so that you must keep reading and reading to see where they are going and what's going to happen to them.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first three parts of this novel about the Irish Kelly family, the blight and the horrific treatment of the Irish people. Their struggles were heart wrenching and unimaginable. I read it nonstop needing to know what happens to these people. When the family finally makes it to America the storyline drops off and it reads more like a history text of dates, events, a whole lot of religion and not much of a plot. Which was very disappointing. I found myself losing interest in the main character and actually skimmed the last 80 pages wishing it would just end. I feel it should have been two books and more time spent on the American experiences than just a documentation.

I've always known of my own Irish heritage, since I was first old enough to read. As the years passed I began to explore it in greater depth, spawning in me a bone-deep need to know more about the Great Hunger that led to my ancestors leaving Ireland for Canada. I visited Ireland in 2014 for the first time, a pilgrimage that evoked an incredible sense memory in me that I felt I had truly come home. This fictional biography more than fed my hunger for details about the struggles my forebears faced and survived. At the same time, it brought me a greater understanding of myself and my reactions to the trials I've faced in my own life. I can't say that about too many other novels I've read. Slán abhair!

Nice read