When Ireland Fell Silent: A Story of a Family's Struggle Against Famine and Eviction

by Harolyn Enis

WHEN IRELAND FELL SILENT takes the reader back to 1845-1849 to County Mayo in a gripping, suspenseful story that reveals the true causes of the Great Irish Famine as told through the eyes of a fictional family named Reilly. Eighteen-year-old Liam Reilly has no idea that his world is about to be shattered. He cherishes County Mayo with its beauty and close family even though life is hard. As tenants, all the Reilly’s crops go to the English landlord as rent while they eat mainly potatoes. Few Irish realize that the English are planning a great change and want to get rid of farmers to create pasture. Unaware, Liam still hopes for rights and a better life, especially when he meets the beautiful Colleen at a wedding in nearby Ballinglass.Terror strikes her village when her landlord razes it to the ground to create pasture. Her family is forced to the dreaded workhouse, and thinking he sees her at a high window, Liam prays she will survive. Liam’s brother Niall accompanies friends from Ballinglass to England to earn passage to America. When he announces he too is emigrating, the devastated family prepares for his “American wake,” knowing this goodbye is forever. Six months pass without a word, and the family worries.A partial blight occurs the year before and Liam frets as the family shares dwindling supplies with beggars. Turf cutting, harvest, and roof thatching distract Liam until one dawn in August, he hears the door open and Mother’s scream. Horrified, he rushes out to plants consumed by fungus. All Ireland’s potatoes are ruined and starvation spreads. People gather to write petitions, begging for assistance, but high government officials in London refuse to interfere and send more soldiers to guard convoys taking out food to port. Liam and his father risk arrest and organize thousands in a peaceful march to ask their landlord for mercy.Trapped in a desperate struggle, the family pulls together with great courage. When Liam kills a large swan at Christmas, they celebrate with extended family. But the government confiscates their meager goods as tax and pushes the family to the edge. Liam and his brother Sean face constant danger from soldiers as they scavenge for food and take enormous risks for the sake of the family. Intense conflict and suspense propel the story forward until at the end, Liam must overcome great obstacles if he is to save his mother and sisters. At 10 Downing Street, 1849, government leaders argue about policy while Ireland falls silent.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

402 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

We will never forget. Hundreds of thousands of Irish died because of England and its Monarchy. England let thousands die of starvation on purpose. There was a potato famine in Norway and Sweden at the same time as it went on in Ireland, yet only Ireland had hundreds of thousands die. Why? Cause Sweden and Norway could import food from outside their countries. Ireland couldn't. Why? England.





Great book. Its heartbreaking what the english did the the irish during the famine and that it didn't have to happen if the english had actually bothered to try and help instead of using the famine as a way to clear the land of Irish for England's use. Makes me glad I never bothered to go to England when I backpacked around Europe.

[Joy Rayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historic and horrific....

It is difficult to evaluate facts, the book itself is TONS of crimes against the Irish. The saga was ever so well written and just as tragic as one would expect given the majority of subject matter presented. Harolyn Enis is indeed gifted in her ability to relate the story, support the facts and envelop the reader. If you pass on this book you are cheating yourself of a heartfelt and engrossing novel that would be a best selling movie!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's important not to forget what happened during Ireland's most tragic years, but I can only handle reading a famine book once or twice a decade. I slogged through this one painful chapter at a time, knowing the general outcome - the repeated failure of the potato crop five years in a row, and utter failure of the government, the British government of course, to intervene.

Many people are under the mistaken event that the Irish famine was primarily a natural, God-created event, but in fact, Ireland was producing plenty of food between 1845 and 1849, food which was exported to England. Since Ireland didn't have control of her own government, and since her lands had been seized and given to mostly absent British landlords, the starving poor were evicted to emigrate or perish.

When Ireland Fell Silent is not particularly original nor well written. It reads like a textbook, describing in a storybook fashion the basic facts of the event with intent to educate. That's worthwhile, but it didn't feel like literature. Nevertheless, I'm glad I read it.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that the books that I have read about the Holocaust were hard to read, but When Ireland Fell Silent was equally as tough. I was horrified. I have read a few other historical fiction novels set in Ireland during the famine, but this book was the most graphic and saddest and descriptive by far. Along with just being so outraged, I kept asking why this story and what the Irish experienced at the hands of the very greedy English politicians and aristocracy. That leaders absolutely wanted to eliminate an entire population, thinking that they were inferior, reminds me of how hard we have to keep fighting for freedom and justice for all peoples. Almost two centuries later, this horrific attitude still exists today in so many places. Whenever one group of people feels another people a lesser group, we must speak up and never allow these horrors to happen again.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book 3 stars because it was so sad, but for conveying information, I would give it 4 stars. Why is it in our history classes (high school and college level) that these huge happenings only receive a mention ie. Ireland had a potato famine and a lot of people starved. This is up there with the holocaust, slavery in America, treatment of the American Indians, and treatment of the Chinese under Mao. Although sad, we should hear the stories and learn from them -- learn never to treat other human beings that way.

[Gary Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book you do not forget easily. Which is what your looking for when you are seeking out a new read. Yes it's a sad story but not what I call depressing. There is a struggle and a stoicism in the face of the hardship and the ending is a white knuckle ride that leaves you satisfied. It should be read in all Schools in the UK and Ireland like American high schools study Steinbecks ; The Grapes of Wrath.

[Megan Joice · Rating 4 out of 5]

'When Ireland Fell Silent' is a detailed account of the Irish Potato Famine told through the eyes of the O'Reilley Family.

This is a relentlessly sorrowful tale. I knew the broad-strokes of the Irish Potato Famine, but the details left me breathless. With this as the backdrop of the novel, you can imagine that there aren't many happy moments in the story. For me, by the end it was a bit overwhelming, especially as the pain of the O'Reilley Family builds to almost an unbearable point. I would highly recommend this tale to anyone who is interested in this point of Irish history.

[Kevin · Rating 1 out of 5]

The dialogue in this book is utterly contemptible. It would appear Harolyn has never actually spent time in Ireland but simply based everything off postcard pictures and other cliché shlock. I wanted to give it a fair shot but the second I read "top o' the morning" in chapter two I put the book down for good. Utter rubbish.

[Diane Depew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely Sad Tale

Follows fictional characters through some of the Irish famine of the 1840s. In the end, the book will leave you angry with the British politicians of the time who refused famine relief as the famine served their needs of eliminating the Irish to repopulate the island with Protestant Scots and English.

[Beaulieu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livre absolument MERVEILLEUX ! Très instructif. Cela vaut la peine d'y consacrer du temps !

absolutely WONDERFUL book! Very informative. worth your time!

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took me a long time to finish because it was very depressing. While it was well written, the topic was heavy. I did not realize the scope or reasons for the Irish famine and was not prepared for the bleakness, desperation, or hopelessness that confronted the Irish people. As an Irish descendant, I have a new respect for my ancestors. If you are interested in Irish history and particulry the "potato famine" I would recommend this book with the caveat of the above mentioned complaints. As I said, Harolyn Enis did write the book well and put a lot of research into it. It might be worth your while if you are a history buff or if you like depressing/bleak stories.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is based on historical facts, and I found it somewhat disturbing and uncomfortable to read but finished it nevertheless. Finally, on page 232, people of England and elsewhere in the world are redeemed as it's noted that collections were made to aid the people of Ireland. Until that point I irrationally felt guilt and shame for my heritage. The author's use of the Irish language and it's English translations were interesting. This author has a true talent for producing vivid images with her descriptions.

[raymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A human account of the great travesty that was British genocide in Ireland

This book puts faces and characters to the time in history when Britain treated Ireland as it's own farm land and the Irish as vermin on its land. the author describes Ireland's landscape and customs very well and although the writing is sometimes a little unimaginative, she captures the helplessness of the characters excellently.

[Susan Waldo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry Monica, but way too miserable for me. It was interesting to learn the dire history of Ireland during the famine, but the book just got sadder and sadder.....and the ending left you wanting some answers to the question of the fate of the Reillys. Kind of like The Hurt Locker----too difficult to bear!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye-opening story about a family during the potato famine in Ireland. I never knew the extent of hardships the Irish had to go through or the evil deeds of the British until I read this book. It's definitely a heavy story, but I think its important that this black mark in history doesn't go unrecognized.

[Debra]

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