Barefoot In Mullyneeny

by Bryan Gallagher

Barefoot in Mullyneeny is Bryan Gallagher's evocative tale of a childhood remembered through the people and landscape of County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.

Whether relating tales of murderous bicycle chases through the darkened streets of Cavan, of feats of strength, of tragedies and murders, or of the anguish of emigration, of rites of passage and swimming to Rabbit Island, this remarkable memoir vividly recreates life in rural Ireland in the 1940s and 50s.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

234 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Finbarr]

This is a really beautiful collection of memories, written as short stories. Each of them are from the author's childhood in Fermanagh around the 40s and 50s. They are rich in the language of the time and the place, and with stories of the kind of characters that are disappearing in our hyper-connected world. These are happy, sad and funny stories, which will have you laughing at a turn of phrase, then holding back a tear after an untimely death a page later. I would recommend this to anyone who has lived in, or has an interest in, rural Ireland. It is a truly lovely book.

[Skullcandi14]

A lovely collection of reflections about the author's formative years. A very insightful dive into how one relates to the events in one's life and varied individual experiences can be. The fondness with which Bryan Gallahager recalls and his childhood is conveyed beautifully to the reader, evoking both nostalgia and a sense of longing. Several of the stories made me chuckle and laugh, and several others made me a tad bit emotional. I also thoroughly loved several of the references to the regional literature and music.
I found the writing crisp and vivid, but I wonder whether I would feel the same way had I grown up in the same town. This is is no way undermining any of the writings, rather an inquisition into the impact that the foreignness of a land has on the reader.

I decided to purchase this book very randomly, most of all, because I loved the beaming smiles on the book cover and I think that the effortless writing provides for the reader to emulate this joy.

[Asif]

The book takes us back in 1940-50s, a small village in the Ireland. The stories are such that it will touch your heart, the innocence and cuteness each story has to offer is unmatchable. The old time, which will never come back and only can be relished through such masterpiece.

[Jeanette Blackwell]

awesome

[Liz]

It was funny but just not for me.

[Wendy Wooldridge]

Short stories about his childhood.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better)]

A cute books of lots of Irish stories. Very funny

[Jan]

This is an enjoyable collection of childhood tales growing up in rural Fermanagh. Nice quick easy read.

[Pat Rich]

Stories of village life in Northern Ireland. Easy to read

[Wallace]

An interesting and entertaining insight to a previous way of life in the border counties in Ireland, both North and South. The chapters are personal and of varying length and detail, but all are insightful of what it was like growing up in a Catholic community and ethos in rural Ireland in the 1940s and 1950s. It is very evocative and reminiscent in some of its detail to the John Ford film 'The Quiet Man', so if you enjoyed that film then I think you'll enjoy this wee book!

My awarding of 3-stars indicates that the book did not 'grip' me, but it was a refreshing read and I do recommend it to all.

My sincere thanks to Brian Verner who sent me the book on loan and in response to a request I had made on my Facebook page for book suggestions for 2014.

Four books read and it's not yet the end of February 2014!

[Jovis]

This is such an easy-to-read book, perfect for light moments of the day. Stories of Bryan's childhood consisted of his life in school, in the church, and in his hometown with his innocence and goodwill of friendships. He was a man driven by will to do things he discovered himself to be good at until the time he has aged. Having told memories of the past in his old age is, I reckon, happiness for him. The life, then, as he described was simple. How warm the feeling is to hope for the less complicated days of tomorrow. I'm happy enough to know that life somewhere and at some time in the past had been untroubled by media, diplomas, climate change and so on. I learn to look back, appreciate and believe in the better days of peace somewhere and sometime soon.

View more: http://http://morememoire.tumblr.com/

[Marie]

Such a sweet book about life in Fermanagh in the 40's and 50's, def not everyones cup of tea!

[Sheila]

Great little snippets of information and descriptions but I prefer a moving storyline.

[Hils Forbsy]

An easy read, funny, sad, melancholic but humourous all through...a step back in time.

[Nisha Firdous]

So beautifully written. I dont know why but I find this book kinda sad. I love sad stories so yeah 4 stars from my side.