The Irish Girl: A Novel

by Ashley E. Sweeney

From multi-award-winning historical fiction author Ashley E. Sweeney comes a family saga about the Irish immigrant experience spanning New York, Chicago, and Colorado so compelling that, USA Today best-selling author Kelli Estes says, “I read this story in one sitting.”

Thirteen-year-old Mary Agnes Coyne, forced from her home in rural Ireland in 1886 after being accused of incest, endures a treacherous voyage across the Atlantic alone to an unknown life in America. From the tenements of New York to the rough alleys of Chicago, Mary Agnes suffers the bitter taste of prejudice for the crime of being poor and Irish.

After moving west to Colorado, Mary Agnes again faces hardships and grapples with heritage, religion, and matters of the heart. Will she ever find a home to call her own? Where?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Ireland, Audiobook, Irish Literature, Coming Of Age

331 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2024

About the author

Multi award-winning author Ashley E. Sweeney’s fourth novel, The Irish Girl, released December 2024. Her previous novels, Eliza Waite, Answer Creek, and Hardland, have won a total of 17 awards, including the Nancy Pearl Book Award, Independent Press Award, WILLA Literary Award, and New Mexico-Arizona Book Award. Sweeney, a native New Yorker and graduate of Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, spends winters in Tucson and summers in the Pacific Northwest.

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy knowing an author’s inspiration for a novel so I never fail to read an author’s note . I read Eliza Waite, Sweeney’s debut novel about 9 years ago and loved this story of a strong woman inspired by a real person. This is another novel based on another strong woman’s life, the author’s great grandmother.

Enduring a hard life of poverty in Ireland in 1886, hunger and cold and worse - blamed for being abused by her half brother, 13 year old Mary Agnes Coyne is sent off by herself to relatives in America. Life doesn’t get any easier for this young immigrant girl who is sent out to work by her uncle . The tough life continues as we see her grow and struggle through some tough circumstances. Strength and resilience, tenacity and a desire to lift herself up make Mary Agnes a character you can’t help but care about her and want something more for than the losses and difficulties that life has dealt her .

Sweeney says this is a fictional account of her great grandmother’s life and tells us in her note more about her real life . Knowing that her great grandmother was the inspiration for this novel made it all the more meaningful to me. A story not just about the trials of an Irish immigrant, but a coming of age story as we see Mary Agnes grow over the next seven years when she reaches a point of self discovery that moves her forward . Well written.

I received a copy of this book from She Writes Press through Edelweiss.

[Kathryn Bashaar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Warning: this review contains spoilers

This book starts strong enough, if a little soap opera-ish. Mary Agnes Coyne is an appealing character: hard-working, pretty, devoted to her five younger brothers. She does most of the housework in their little cottage in northwest Ireland, while her ever-pregnant mother sits around criticizing and complaining. And Mary Agnes has a dream: she longs to be educated, an unlikely prospect for a poor Irish girl in the 1880s.

When Mary Agnes struggles to hold off the sexual advances of her older brother, her parents send her to live with her grandparents. Her grandfather hires a tutor for her, and her brief education with him only whets her appetite for learning. When Mary Agnes’ grandparents can no longer care for her, they raise the money to send her to relatives in Chicago.

Although Mary Agnes finds a friend in her cousin Helen in Chicago, her aunt and uncle aren’t interested in keeping her in their comfortable middle-class home, and send her out into service. Mary Agnes encounters discrimination and hardship in Chicago, but she also falls in love. When her husband Tom contracts tuberculosis, the young couple moves to Colorado Springs, hoping for a cure.

The last hundred or so pages of this novel are just a mess. Mary Agnes loses Tom, falls in love again, and makes a puzzlingly bad decision. There’s a gratuitous rape. She comes into some money, but a few pages later she is inexplicably broke. There’s a confusing, unnecessary dream sequence. Despite being destitute, her whole family somehow manages to traipse all the way from Connemara to Chicago to cause her trouble. It takes the soap opera quality of the novel to a whole new level. One of the first rules of good writing is to trap your main character in a tree and then throw rocks at her. Sweeney takes that to the level of putting poor Mary Agnes in a tree in the middle of a hailstorm with gale-force winds, throwing boulders at her, and then setting the tree on fire.

And, after all the early emphasis on Mary Agnes’ desperation for an education, leading the reader to believe that she will eventually achieve that dream, she never does. She seems to have forgotten all about it.

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[Chelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Agnes has dealt with more in six years of her life, than many of us ever have to experience in our lifetime. What a strong woman she was for everything she had to endure and how quickly she was forced to grow up. Having been sent away by her mother, she stayed with her grandparents until she could no longer. Sending her on to America at thirteen, she sets out for what she thinks will be a life of learning at a University and a new start from the hardship of Ireland. Mary A quickly learns that in America, it's not as easy as the dream seems but many are not a fan of the Irish and she often has to rely on the kindness of others when finding herself in dire need. Eventually she makes her way to Chicago which isn't much better than New York. Same shady characters, same men lurking and the only thing she seems to be good for is cleaning. So much for being sent to family for a new life in America. Mary A finds herself in Colorado where life is much different. Living is different and although there is still danger, it's different than the big cities. But when tragedy strikes, she heads back to what she knows, Chicago. Family is still here but she realizes that the day her mother sent her away was the day she no longer had family. Knowing where she belongs, she makes one last decision and heads to where she feels home is. Barely on the brink of adulthood Mary A finally decides to search for her own happiness and life. I just loved Mary A and felt all her pain and heartache as she navigated this new world through her teenage years. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite. This novel is going on the shelf with all of her other novels! This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Ella Crabtree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not work for me whatsoever basically

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is based off that of the author’s great grandmother. It’s late 19th century in rural seaside Ireland and at barely 13, Mary Agnes’s half brother tried to molest her but rather than offer support, her mother accuses her of incest and throws her out. Her grandparents take her in and hire a tutor for her but grandma soon learns that she’s dying of breast cancer and decide to send her to Chicago where she has a relative. Traveling alone at age 13, Mary A survives the journey from county Galway to Liverpool and London and the harsh transatlantic voyage with the friendship of a kindly teenage boy who befriends her on the ship. She arrives in NYC and finds the priest at the Catholic Church her grandpa refers her to. She is taken to the home of a large Irish family where she learns that she has to work for a month to earn her train fare to Chicago.

Widowed at age eighteen she’s again alone and practically penniless, but she has not come all this way to quit. This is a story of survival against the odds, of resilience, betrayal and faith, and Mary A is nothing, if not a survivor!

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the author’s great-grandmother, The Irish Girl is an immigration story at the surface but deeper than that it is a coming of age story but also a story of finding where you belong.

The author does a wonderful job of immersing the reader into the heart of Ireland in the late 1800s with her research but also her writing style.

The Irish Girl will hook you from start to finish and will keep you cheering and groaning as the main character navigates her way through her trials & tribulations as she tries to make her way in a harsh world.

Highly recommend The Irish Girl!! 🇮🇪 ☘️🇺🇸🇮🇪☘️🇺🇸

[Debra Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the spunk of the Irish, Mary Agnes will win your heart from the start. Facing adversity at a very young age, she perseveres as her determination and courage carry her across an ocean to a life of struggle and great loss in America that would deflate most spirits. With writing as lush as a Galway countryside, The Irish Girl is a powerful story of a young woman’s discovery of hidden strengths despite all odds—a story emblematic of the resilient American immigrant spirit that keeps the love of home country while embracing, wholeheartedly, the new.

[Laurie Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Irish Girl by Ashley E. Sweeney is a spellbinding novel loosely based on the author's great-grandmother. This utterly addictive story explores life's sharp turns, highlighting grit and personal mettle. Sweeney's knack for creating memorable and touching characters shines, with the unforgettable Mary Agnes Coyne winning over hearts. The lyrical and lush prose draws the reader in, making this book profoundly affecting and satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way. I couldn't put this astonishing piece of storytelling down.

[Meaghan McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not care for this book.

[J G · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Irish Girl drew me in right away! Having relatives who came from Ireland made me especially intrigued with the story of Mary Agnes. The descriptions of people, places, and events were just right – enough detail but not overwhelming. The author kept the story moving at a pace that made me want to keep reading to see what happened to “Irish” next. The book ends in a perfect way for there to be a sequel – hoping one is in the works!

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gah! Gratuitous sex and death and gore yet boring all at once!

[Winette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two and a half stars actually. It starts off great yet becomes tedious and predictable.

[Chelley B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book!!! So very good.

[Beatrice Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

With too little time in the day, and too little food to pass around, Mary Agnes Coyne is often overlooked in her family. That is, until her older brother begins to pay her too much attention, and she can’t get her mother to listen to her side of the story.

Sent away overseas to escape the overbearing influence of the rumours of incest, Mary Agnes finds herself alone on a journey across the world from rural Ireland, all the way to America, to start a new life far away from home.

Despite being very young, Mary Agnes takes the journey in her stride. She often finds herself in the company of people she knows she cannot necessarily trust, and yet she longs so desperately for a friend to accompany her along the way. She greatly desires guidance, and yet despises when others try to tell her what to do. Making her way along the treacherous voyage across the Atlantic, and then through New York to make her way towards her family in Chicago, Mary Agnes faces many challenges. Her reactions to each roadblock she encounters are engulfed with the maturity she has been forced to quickly grow into, but still remain tinged with the childlike wonder and fears of a thirteen-year-old girl. She is a very complex character, for she faces a lot of challenges at a very young age, but her emotional maturity is restrained by the youth she still possesses.

The dangers that Mary Agnes faces are portrayed with an intricacy that makes you genuinely fear for her safety as she traverses the unknown. On multiple occasions, her life seems to be hanging in the balance of her decisions, and dependent on the leniency of those around her. There are times you physically can’t stop reading, for fear of Mary Agnes’ safety, and because you simply can’t step away without knowing that she is safe. This book definitely keeps your attention as you read, for Mary Agnes is never entirely settled and safe, and there is always something dark lurking around the corner, just waiting for her to feel secure before stirring everything up and sending her into turmoil.

This novel certainly highlights the difficulties that the Irish faced, not only in Ireland, with a severe lack of food, and poverty keeping people from being able to keep their families sufficiently fed, but also in America, where the Irish are seen as inferior, and people would rather hire anyone else instead of someone from Ireland. The discrimination Mary Agnes faces on a daily basis in America, where she finds herself ignored and disbelieved at every turn, echoes the life she has escaped in Ireland, wherein even her own mother had little time for her. The turmoil caused by finding herself looked down on and turned away, based simply on what part of the world she came from, weighs heavily on Mary Agnes. She travelled to America with the dream of going to university, but the world she finds there is much more prejudiced than she expected, and the challenges she faces mean the world closes off to her, rather than opening up more opportunities.

I truly enjoyed listening to the audiobook of this novel. The accent of the narrator certainly draws you deeper into the story, immersing you completely in Mary Agnes’ life. With all the twists and turns, and different situations that Mary Agnes finds herself in, the story is engaging, and one you don’t want to put down and walk away from.

[Sue Ready · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multi- Award-winning historical fiction author Ashley Sweeney's writing shines in her newest novel, "The Irish Girl." It's a family saga, a coming-of-age story, and the Irish immigrant experience. Narrated by the protagonist, 13-year-old Mary Agnes Coyne, the story's time frame is between the 1880s to 1890s. It spans from a rural village in Galway, Ireland, to New York, Chicago, and Colorado. Mary Agnes has been banished from her Irish home by her mother, who fails to believe a family member molested her. She flees to her grandparents' home. They decide to book a passage for Mary Agnes to America, hoping she will find a better life there and become more educated. Despite her young age, Mary Agnes travels by herself from Ireland to New York City. After a month, she moves to Chicago by train to live with her uncle and his family. But Mary Agnes' story doesn't end there; it continues to Colorado Springs and ends up back in Chicago, all before she turns 21!

Sweeney's vivid sentences are descriptive and filled with sensory details that bring out all the senses, from the Irish seaside to the persistent rain that hangs over the country, the smells and confined spaces on the steamer, the sounds and sights of New York and Chicago, and the wide open spaces of a Colorado ranch. Sentences are punctuated with literary gems and lyrical prose. Period dialogue is used effectively.

Mary Agnes endures the stigma of poverty and discrimination for being Irish. She endures harrowing misfortunes, economic struggles, disappointments, rejection, a clash of heritage, religion, and unsettling matters of the heart. She has a tender heart longing to find true love, a home, and a real place to which she belongs. Through Mary Agnes's perseverance, optimism, courage, and resilience, she finds the love of her life only to lose him, unexpected kindness, and acceptance. Supporting characters are well-developed, adding depth, complexity, and conflict to the main storyline. The chronic lack of sufficient food permeates the storyline, impacting the characters' lives as they try to survive.

The story is loosely based on the author's great-grandmother's experience as an Irish immigrant. Sweeney's well-researched novel gives insight into the Irish's experiences before entering America and their continued struggles to be accepted once in the country.

The writing is of the highest caliber. I found the story of "The Irish Girl" to be mesmerizing and engrossing, finishing the book in a day. As a bonus to the story, readers are enriched with a deeper understanding and empathy for the immigrant experience. The last sentence of the story was indeed a clever way to end.

[Janis Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Irish Girl by Ashley Sweeney transports readers to the late 19th-century with a powerful and emotionally rich narrative of the immigrant experience. From the beginning, a captivating opening introduces us to Mary Agnes Coyne, a thirteen-year-old Irish girl. A dreamer. A girl of the land and the sea. A heroine whose story comes to life with intricate relationships that evolve and devolve quickly and meaningfully.

Mary Agnes’ strength guides her through a series of trials that test her faith, love, and heritage. As she faces hardships—and there are many—from the cultural and religious tensions of her time as an impoverished Irish-Catholic, to complex matters of the heart—she never wavers. Never gets beaten down to the point that she cannot rise. Yet, rise she does, like a phoenix from the ash of a peat fire. I have a hard time thinking there are many, if any teenagers of this generation who could emotionally and physically survive the trials Mary Agnes faces.

Beyond Mary Agnes and the well-defined supporting characters around her: family, friends, and foes, each setting, like in any novel by Ashley Sweeney, comes alive as a character itself. From vivid and sensory descriptions of the persistent rain which hangs over Ireland, the biting winds of the Galway coast and the precious moments to find rugged beauty in the countryside, to the confined, dank and rank spaces aboard a ship crossing the Atlantic, to the crowds and shops and tenement buildings of New York and Chicago to the wide-open spaces of a Colorado ranch, the natural world intertwines with Mary Agnes’ struggles, making the land and its people inseparable from the story's core themes.

The Irish Girl shines as an inspiring tale of identity and perseverance. It offers readers a deeper understanding and empathy for the immigrant experience; then by many of our ancestors, like Sweeney’s great-grandmother, Mary Agnes Coyne, and now, by those crossing our borders with the same dreams and hopes in their heart – to find their home.

[Jo Dervan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Irish Girl
In 1882 Mary Agnes Coyne was living with her impoverished family in rural Galway when her older brother sexually assaulted her. When she defended herself and injured her brother, her mother threw her out of the house. Her only refuge was the nearby home of her grandparents where she was welcomed. Then her grandmother became ill and 13 year old Mary Agnes was sent to live with the family of an uncle in Chicago.
Her trip involved a boat from Galway to England and then another boat to New York. She then contacted a priest who forced her to work for a month to earn her train fare to Chicago.
Her Chicago relatives were prosperous but urged her to seek employment as a maid. By the time she was 16 she had married and was a housewife. The marriage didn’t last long as her husband became ill and died.
Now the young widow had to take care of herself out in Colorado where they had gone hoping for a cure for her husband’s illness.
This story is loosely based on the experiences of the author’s great grandmother, an Irish immigrant. It is well researched and gives an insight into what Irish immigrants lives were
like before and after they immigrated to America. I was reminded of Angela’s Ashes and the poverty that book exposed. The nationalities of the immigrants have changed but today’s newcomers face many of the same hardships as those came before them.
I enjoyed this book and would encourage anyone interested in the Irish immigrant experience to read it.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Gwendalyn Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Absolutely Amazing Historical Fiction 🤎📖📕

𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: THE IRISH GIRL
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: ASHLEY E SWEENEY
𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑: She Writes Press
𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: ⁣ 12.10.2024
𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: Historical Fiction

{𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒}
The Irish girl by Ashley Sweeney is power house Irish immigrant experience. A book about a courageous young girl whose violent home life sets in motion a journey of self discovery and hardships. Mary Agnes Coyne, is just thirteen when she leaves her Irish homeland, bound by ship to stay with her maternal uncle and his family, living in Chicago. Traveling to America unchaperoned and alone, she arrives in New York only to find that she must earn her ticket to Chicago. Upon arrival to her family in Chicago she is devastated that she is dealt more obstacles. Her journey takes her from East to West, New York and unto the cattle ranches of Colorado and Santa Fe.
Ashley Sweeney moving book brings to life her great grandmother’s poignant story. Mary Agnes is a bold and resilient protagonist that you can root for. A book that will stay with you long after you close it. Just Wonderful!

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣{𝐇𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒}
#theirishgirl #SheWritesPress #suzyapprovedbooktours #cozyvibes #cozyhome #historicalfiction #homedecor #lifestylephotography #cozyliving #homesweethome #cozyaesthetic #cozyreading #coffeeandbooks

[Mary Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟.5

The Irish girl by Ashley E. Sweeney

Historical fiction set in the 1880s-1890s is inspired by the author’s great-grandmother, who journeyed to America from Ireland alone at the age of 13 to join family in Chicago.

The challenging and daunting transatlantic journey that Mary Agnes experiences foreshadows the difficulties she will face in America.

The story likely resonates with many immigrants who sought a better life in America and faced inhumane treatment upon their arrival.

Mary Agnes is a character with a potent mixture of spunk, strength, resilience, and a strong desire for a better life, a place she can genuinely call home, and the yearning to experience love.

Her strength and resilience enable her to navigate through continuous challenges and hardship: the stigma of poverty, discrimination due to Irish heritage and Catholic faith, misogyny, sexual abuse and assault, as well as heartbreak.

The dream of attending university upon her arrival at her relatives' home in Chicago is swiftly crushed.

From there, we trace her journey from Chicago to Colorado and beyond.

The detailed descriptions of Ireland, New York, Colorado, and the West during this time were captivating and constituted a significant part of what I enjoyed most about this reading.

This book was an enjoyable, not great, read for me.

[Deb Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This captivating story tugs at your heartstrings, while giving you hope for the future. I didn't want the book to end! A coming of age tale set in the 1880s-1890s about Mary Agnes, a teenager banished from her Irish home by her mother. She was sent to live with her grandparents for a while and then traveled by herself, at 13 years old, on an ocean steamer to New York City. After a month, she moves on to Chicago by train to live with her uncle and his family. Mary Agnes' story doesn't end there-it continues to Colorado Springs and back to Chicago-all before she turns 21!
The descriptions of each setting bring out all the senses from the beauty of the Irish seaside to the sights and smells on the steamer to the vast expanse of Colorado. The characters that surround Mary Agnes are well developed, some you love and some you want to throttle. She had to find her way at each place, many times with help from the kindness of strangers. After a lot of meticulous research, this immigration story was inspired by the author's grandmother.
I highly recommend this riveting story!!
#TheIrishGirl #historicalfiction
Thank you Ashley Sweeney for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read such an immersive, well-written historical story like this, I wonder if I would have survived in an earlier era.

Mary Agnes was only thirteen when her granddad put her on a ship from Ireland to America in 1886. She has already weathered much for a child. Her half-brother has sexually assaulted her, and her own mother has cast her out of her home, accusing her of asking for it.

Mary Anges' journey does not become any easier in the States, although she is amazed by the wealth and opulence that many have.
She suffers from prejudices against Catholics and the Irish and finds that she must protect herself from men akin to her vile half-brother.

From the rugged coast of Ireland to the busy streets of New York and Chicago and on to a cattle ranch in picturesque Colorado, Mary Agnes’ travels take her where she must go. She is always searching for peace, love, and a home - yet her road is stricken with hardship and loss.

Again, I was in awe of Mary Agnes’ courage and perseverance. Her hunger, trauma, grief, and pain kept me turning pages, hoping there would be joy for this girl. She is a character I will not soon forget.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @ashleysweeneyauthor for a spot on tour and a gifted book.

[Tracy Freidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashley Sweeney’s The Irish Girl is a beautifully woven tale that captures the reader from the very first page. With a gift for crafting vivid characters and transporting settings, Sweeney takes us on a journey through the heart of Ireland, blending history, family secrets, and personal growth in a way that feels both deeply intimate and universally resonant.

The story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and the importance of embracing one’s roots. Sweeney paints a story rich in detail, immersing readers in the cultural backdrop of Ireland. The characters feel authentic making it easy to connect with their struggles and triumphs; with themes of love, forgiveness, and finding one’s place in the world.
As a fan of historical fiction, I found The Irish Girl an absolute gem. Sweeney’s storytelling is compelling, and her message is timeless. This book is not just a story—it’s an experience that lingers long after you turn the final page.

Highly recommended!

[Cherop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a young woman who overcomes adversity. The author based the book loosely on her great grandmother who also immigrated to Chicago from Galway, Ireland.

Mary Agnes, a young Irish girl of 13, sets sail for America from Galway, Ireland, under a cloud of suspicion and gossip. Her first stop is to her uncle and aunt in Chicago where she gathers herself and is told she must work rather than go to university as she had envisioned.

After working for a time there she meets and marries a young man. They end up moving to Colorado when he turns consumptive. After his death, she remains in Colorado to be near her husband, works as a ranch cook and tries to come to grips with how long she should grieve before learning to live again. The owner of the ranch where she works dies and once again she must determine where to live. She returns to Chicago where she works for a time before ultimately deciding what to do with the rest of her life.

[Dawn Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Irish Girl by Ashley E. Sweeney
This is the story of Mary Agnes Coyne, a thirteen-year-old Irish girl who, because of a tumultuous family dynamic, immigrates to the United States, all alone, in the late 1800’s. Her journey leads her to Chicago, which is my hometown. I really enjoyed reading the vivid description of the city during that time period. Mary’s development takes her from being a dreamer of what she wants her life to be, to fulfilling dreams she didn’t know she had in the beginning. Throughout the tale Mary is a strong female character, a hard worker and determined to survive all the adversity that comes her way. The story has friendship, love, violence, class struggles, courage and setbacks. It grabbed me in the beginning and kept me engaged to the last page.
D.W. Hogan author of
Unbroken Bonds
and contributing author in
Feisty Deeds anthology

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a page turning drama that follows Irish immigrant Mary Agnes Coyne as she leaves Ireland in 1886 to come to America.

The book gives us the backstory on why at 13 years old she is traveling across the Atlantic alone.

We follow Mary Agnes from New York City, to Chicago and then on to Colorado.

Mary Agnes is a testament to determination. Her life does not unfold as she imagines it, but her grit is evident in every step of her journey.

I found one of the most fascinating details in this read to be when Mary Agnes cooks for a chuck wagon in Colorado.

I loved that this book is loosely based on the author’s great grandmother. There is even a photo of the real Mary Agnes which made for a special bonus.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @ashleysweeneyauthor @shewritespress
and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the #gifted book.

THE IRISH GIRL is a beautifully written and researched story loosely based on Ashley's great grandmother. At only thirteen years old, Mary Agnes makes the treacherous trip from Ireland to New York where she faces prejudice because she is poor, Catholic and Irish. I cannot even imagine the determination and perseverance it took to survive a trip with little food and basically only the clothes on her back. We follow her to Chicago, Colorado and Santa Fe as she faces many challenges while she looks for a place to call home. This story is at times heartbreaking and one that will stay with you long after reading.

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Irish Girl by Ashley E. Sweeney is a beautiful story that I really enjoyed.

The story follows Mary Agnes Coyne, she is an Irish immigrant. We meet her in 1886 at the age of 13. She is traveling to America. We see Mary in NYC, Chicago and Colorado.

Mary Agnes is the epitome of a strong woman. What the immigrants endured is extraordinary.
While her life did not turn out the way she thought they would, she held on to hope.

The story is based on a true story, the author's great grandmother.

This story is filled with heart, grit and fierce devotion as Mary follows her journey.

Highly recommend!

[Christy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Agnes will be an unforgettable character for me. I cannot imagine the incredibly scary and tough times she experienced at such a young age - - being turned away by her mother, making the long journey to America by herself and doing really hard work for not much money all before she was 15. Plus she never had enough to eat while battling all of that. Her will to survive was admirable and I was rooting for her while also aching for her. The story was even more compelling since it was loosely based on the author’s great grandmother. Historical fiction fans should not miss this one. It is a powerful page turner!

[Sarah W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading immigration stories set during this time period. They are usually full of emotion and great character growth and I think this one delivered on both aspects. I feel like Mary was the youngest making the journey that I have read but she was so strong and wise for her age at the time. The things she was trying to escape in Ireland had a roundabout way of following her and I felt so bad for some of the things she went through. I enjoyed reading about her time in Colorado the most. There was just something about her experiences there that grabbed me. I enjoyed the authors note at the end too.

Thank you @ashleysweeneyauthor @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.

[Celeste Boudreaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

an epic tale of hardship, grit, resilience and grace

Sweeney has woven a story which, though it covers only seven years in the life of its young protagonist, Mary Agnes, known to her friends simply as “Irish,” covers such a densely packed life that it seems much longer. Besides simply telling an engaging tale about mind-boggling deprivation and overcoming overwhelming odds, it transports the reader into 1880’s Ireland, the Irish tenements of New York City, Chicago, and health sanatoriums in Colorado. It is a satisfying story of survival, the cruelty of family and the kindness of strangers. I enjoyed it thoroughly!