Desmond Gallagher Libros

This novel is largely set in Dublin during the early 1900s.Lily Clancy becomes widowed, and is left with three young sons. She has no income or support and, worse still, she is becoming addicted to drink. From relative comfort, she is forced to take her young family to live in a tenement in Waterford Street.In 1922, a Civil War begins and Bernard her middle son enlists in the new National Army of Ireland. He is deployed to Kerry, where the bitterest atrocities of this 'brother-against-brother' conflict occur.During furlough in Dublin, Bernard falls in love with Madeline, but his mother, Lily, resents her 'stealing' her son.The story is about ordinary people living their lives in extraordinary times, mostly unaware of the history happening around them. The novel explores many laneways, all adding flesh to the bones of the characters. Whilst the history of the time provides the backdrop to the story, the principal interest is always the human one.

A novel, set in Dublin in the 1970s where we find our hero Mark living the 'free' life, yet still under the Mother's roof, enjoying home comforts, and precious of his bachelor status. Carefree, a contented spirit in his beloved city, but it's all too good to be true. For around the corner, he is in for an education. It comes in the form of the opposite sex. To get tangled up with one female shows a chink in his defences. But, then there's a second woman. How does that happen to our Dublin hero? And thrown into the mix we have the Irish Mammy, putting in her say, whether he wishes to hear it or not. Yes, life becomes very complicated for our Mark. Thus begins an emotional journey that gets out of control and, as in real life, it is guided by a broken compass. (Although primarily based in his beloved Dublin, Ireland, the locations include the Isle of Man, London, and New York.)