I was looking through ebay just now and found books from both brothers, those from Frank in German and Malachy´s " A Monk swimming " in English. Looking forward to re-reading them again. I enjoyed them in the past, only thing I found negative was what he wrote about his mother who gave her whole life to rearing the family after the father took himself off. One other statement he made still remains in my memory, no matter how little food or clothing was available there was always enough cash for tobacco and alcohol.
donald

'Morning Donald. I'm up early and have taken the opportunity to catch up on the Forum. You gave me a laugh when I read "the father took himself off". That's a Lisburn one all right. I, too, found the two books I read a bit depressing. I think it was the description of Limerick as raining all the time. I suppose as a child this is the impression they got, but reading about the rain, damp, drizzle and poverty made me fee4l cold. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your new finds. I'm sure you'll come back and let us know.

Ann
First time I read " A Monk swimming" I found the reason he called it so hilarious. As a child in the church when the Priest saying Hail Mary part of which is " Blessed art thou, amongst women"! He misunderstood it and thought the Priest said " Blessed art thou a Monk swimmin"!
donald

Donald,

One of my grandsons always said "Give us this day our tatie bread"

Pat

Pat
the books ( all three) arrived today, am looking forward to re-reading them. Both from Frank are translated to German and that from Malachy is in English.
Herself was telling me just now that they as children also misunderstood the Latin prayer " Mea Culpa, Mea Mexima Culpa" ( Through my fault etc) as " Mea Cowboy, Mea Mexican Cowboy"!
donald

The Lord's Prayer as a child. "Our Father who worked in Heaven".

Ann ,

The same grandson said "Our Father who's NOT in Heaven" Hilarious wee boy.


Now he is a school-teacher in Dublin.......Pat

Hi Pat,

Karen came home from Sunday school and said they only say "the part of the story". when my young cousin came to pick her up the following week,we asked her what she meant,she laughed and told us it was "the power and the glory", incidentally I don't think they say that part of the Lords Prayer in the Catholic church

Beano

Beano, that's right, we don't include "for thine is the kingdom, etc." in the Lord's Prayer. We do, however, add that piece to the Lord's Prayer at Mass. It's complicated, isn't it? I'm sure the Lord gets the message anyhow. The children tell it as it is.

Have almost finished re-reading ( this time in German ) Angela´s Ashes and still found it very undiplomatic what he wrote about his mother who moved in with her cousin to ensure a roof over the heads of her children after she was left alone when her husband "took himself off" to England and left her alone in Limerick
donald

Donald

If it is a true story how could he have said anything else? These things happened and we have to acknowledge the truth. Poor woman was in an awful situation and he I am sure knows that. That is how it was and it is always better to face up to it.

Donald,

How do we know how we would react in the same situation, the real one to blame was the uncle she trusted to move in with, probably for the sake of her children.

The book was rejected by a lot of Limerick people who said there were others in the same situation, but they speak from judgement instead of experience. Everyone is different.

The truth hurts, but it is better out than in, it took courage to write it. He didn't spare himself in the book. Malachy's book is funnier & easier on the reader.

Have we learnt anything from Frank's book,? Pat

Liz/Pat
Have started to Malacy´s book, will leave Frank´s second one for a while. Poverty was not limited to Limerick but was spread througout Ireland. We can be grateful we lived in around Hilden where the Barbour family provided work, housing, schools and recreation facalites for those who worked for them and their familes. We were not well off but at least had enough to eat and clothes to wear as well as free schooling and a roof over our heads.
donald

I think we were all lucky in that we had food, clothes, warmth, schooling and care. When you read in the papers about children who are abused, neglected, left alone and with no-one to care for them, we can indeed feel blessed.