This fine book is available now at our bookstore....

O'Donovan From Garryowen

by Austin O'Donovan

290 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-1922; ISBN 1-4120-1996-6; US$24.50, C$29.29, EUR20.50, £14.50

If you really want to know what Limerick City was like to live in during the Second World War read O'Donovan From Garryowen.

Read more!

about the book      about the author      excerpts      catalogue info

About the Book A World War II memoir set in Limerick city, which describes much of what I had in common with Irish American author Frank McCourt, who wrote Angela's Ashes, later made into a film.

---

About the Author My other book, 365 Days Less 2 Days, is a peep into the past in Limerick Public Houses. More information can be found on my web site at: www.austinodonovan.com

---

Excerpts

Foreword

O'Donovan from Garryowen is the title of my book which I wrote about my childhood growing up in Sarsfield Avenue Garryowen, among other places in Limerick City. I give an account of what I had in common with a famous Irish American Author Frank McCourt, who wrote "Angela's Ashes" later made into a film.

It baffles me to know why the Irish American never once mentioned in his book happy places to be like the Abbey or Plassey regattas. Or places like Corbally or the Shannon fields where all the kids from Limerick swam and went on picnics in the summer time. Most children that lived in the poorest of houses would have known places to go for picnicking, especially Plassey.

Frank McCourt never once mentions any of these happy places in his account of Limerick. I had a few things in common with Mr McCourt, even though I lived in a different part of Limerick City from him. One of my grandmothers was born in the North of Ireland and one in Limerick City, as was the Americans. I made my First Communion and collected money, as was the custom like all the other boys and girls, as did the American. I went to a national school and was taught by lay teachers.

I got the free bun and milk at school. I spent some time in the same fever ward, in the same city home and hospital. I queued in the same dispensary, to see a doctor and get free medicine.

I frequented the same cinemas and saw the same films. I moved around to live in different places in Limerick City. I bought sweets in Miss Houlihans shop in number 5, St Joseph St. All these things I did, as did the American. I lived in Emmett Place; only two minutes walk from the eleven houses in Little Barrington Street where the Americans mother and grandmother lived. I knew the Americans mother uncle and grandmother. I played in and around all the lanes in Limerick City. But I have never seen the likes of the poverty portrayed, in the Americans book called "Angela's Ashes".

If you want a true account of what Limerick City was like to grow up when the Irish American lived here. But seen from a different pair of eyes, I suggest you read my book, "O'Donovan from Garryowen."

---

Catalogue Information

---

About Trafford Publishing:
Our books are manufactured one-at-a-time to fill individual orders -- part of an innovative process we invented, called "on-demand publishing." Authors and organizations from 120 countries are using Trafford for their publishing needs.
If you (or your company) wish to list a title for sale to the public, contact the nearest office or select "publishing offices" from our bookstore pages for details.

Canada • USA • UK • Republic of Ireland Contact Us URL http://www.trafford.com © 1995-2005 Trafford Publishing, a division of Trafford Holdings Ltd. Trafford's Privacy Policy: Client information will never be provided to anyone outside of Trafford and its subsidiaries except where required by law.