SOLVED. Irish short stories, one of them about a cab driver, many stories touch on divorce's legalization [s]

[Noam]

I'm looking for the name of a short-story collection by an Irish author. I believe the author is a woman, but I'm not sure. The short stories take place right around the time that divorce was legalized in Ireland, and that change plays a part in a number of the stories.

The one story in particular that I remember is narrated by a taxi driver. The story unfolds in his cab, as a kind woman, her husband, and the husband's mistress all take this cab various times. The woman talks with the driver whenever she takes a cab, while the husband always ignores the driver. The driver is conflicted on whether or not to tell the woman that he knows she's being cuckolded.

I'm pretty sure I've read it in the last 10 years, definitely not more than 15 years ago.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Some guesses -

The Lady with the Red Shoes, and Other Stories by Ita Daly?

Something by Éilís Ní Dhuibhne?
Angela Bourke?
Evelyn Conlon?

[Noam]

I don't think it was "The Lady with the Red Shoes," but thanks.

[Ayshe]

If only. maybe?

[Noam]

Ayshe wrote: "If only. maybe?"

This looks promising! The name didn't jog my memory, but the one review in goodreads, and the year it was written, makes it seem like a good candidate. Do you know more about "If Only"?

[Noam]

Lobstergirl wrote: "Some guesses -

The Lady with the Red Shoes, and Other Stories by Ita Daly?

Something by Éilís Ní Dhuibhne?
Angela Bourke?
[author:E..."

Lobstergirl - I looked up the three authors you mentioned, and I their books don't look familiar. But I may have some new authors to read now! (:

[Ayshe]

Noemi wrote: "Do you know more about "If Only"?" No, I didn't. But looking more in depth on worldcat.org now (where I found it) http://www.worldcat.org/title/if-only...
"Taxi-men are invisible / Maeve Binchy" looks like it could be the story.

[Noam]

I just went on world-cat, and it's at my local library! It's under a different title - In Sunshine or in Shadow - but it's the same book. I'm going to go check it out! Thanks!

[Ayshe]

You're welcome! Let us know when you've confirmed if it's the book or not.

[rivka]

Ayshe wrote: ""Taxi-men are invisible / Maeve Binchy" looks like it could be the story."

That story, as well as several others which touch on the change in divorce law in Ireland, is also found in her Chestnut Street collection.

[Noam]

I don't think it's Chestnut Street because I read it at least 4 or 5 years ago, and it looks like that collection is from 2014. Thanks though!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Publishers Weekly wrote, "In 1995, Irish voters passed--by the narrowest margin in the country's history--a constitutional amendment lifting Ireland's ban on divorce. That pivotal moment spurred Maher and O'Brien to solicit original stories addressing the themes of love and marriage from 19 women writers with family or personal roots in Ireland. Contributors include Maeve Binchy (whose ""Taximen Are Invisible"" is a corrosive portrait of a philandering man and the helpless women he deceives)..."

In Sunshine or in Shadow: Stories by Irish Women

Noam left the group. Moving from Possibly Solved to Solved.