The Luck of the Irish: Our Life in County Clare [Hardcover]

Niall Williams (Author), Christine Breen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2003

The story of a family's decision to return to their homeland describes how two artists left their New York City careers for a life in Kilmihil, adopted two children, and witnessed the elements of change in western Ireland.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ten years ago, the authors, who are husband and wife, moved to Ireland-Williams's homeland-from suburban New York City to live in a cottage in County Clare. Here they continue their adventures related in O Come Ye Back to Ireland and other books, with survival a central theme, as the couple and their two adopted children struggle to make a living in Kilmihil, with Williams working as a part-time English and French teacher and writing, while Breen takes care of the home, paints and writes. There is the eternal lament on the bad weather and the vanishing hope that it "might clear yet." There is the locals' suspicion of the flesh, with the scandal of topless dancing in Ballyferriter and the production of John B. Keane's "dirty play," The Chastitute. There is also the adventure of discovering western Ireland with a trip to Dingle, where the people of the Gaeltacht, the Irish-speaking region, talk "in foreign-sounding English." Ireland is also a fertile place: Williams's play, The Murphy Initiative, is staged at the Abbey Theater in Dublin and the family's horse foals. Readers will toast this book with a well-deserved slainte. Author tour.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In several books (O Come Ye Back to Ireland and similarly clich{‚}e-entitled sequels), Williams and Breen recorded, in romantic detail, their escape from New York's rat race to a life in the west of Ireland that seemed every stressed-out American's dream--living in harmony with nature, surrounded by eloquent country folk, at peace with the world and themselves. Muttering cynics will love their new book, for, yup, Paddy, that life ain't what it seemed. A decade into it, Williams and Breen have given up the cows and taken part-time jobs. They struggle with the political and social tensions of their changing homeland. They watch as the countryside they love becomes depopulated and Irish farming economically devastated. The new book affords a fierce, realistic picture of Ireland today, one many Irish-Americans, who devoured the couple's last few books like soda bread on March 17, may not wish to hear. But perhaps the pair's popularity--and charm and vibrancy--will serve through this book to draw attention to the real difficulties the rural Irish face. Patricia Monaghan

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Soho Press (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569470227
• ISBN-13: 978-1569470220
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,583,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite as enjoyable as others in this series, December 23, 2001

By 

Beachreader "BeachReader" (Port Townsend, WA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Luck of the Irish: Our Life in County Clare (Paperback)

Over the last few weeks, I've become quite the fan of Niall and Chris. Reading or acquiring all of their books -- fiction and nonfiction. This book left me feeling a bit disappointed but at the same time wanting an update.

I had to smile at all the visitors from abroad showing up at their doorstep --- I envisioned myself doing the same thing. Now I doubt I would show up unannounced -- but I still will make an effort to see the town of Kilmihil.

This book definitely should be read after reading at least the first book -- O' Come Ye Back to Ireland. I doubt that those who haven't read the first book will be able to keep interested. And whereas the first book made settling in the west of Ireland sound romantic, Niall Williams seems to be discouraging people from doing what he and Chris.

That said, I am glad I read it and loved hearing about young Joseph and his sister Deirdre.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read all 4 !!, January 20, 2005

By 

D. A. Wellenzohn "Wells" (Billygoat Valley, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Luck of the Irish: Our Life in County Clare (Paperback)

I just reread all 4 Kiltumber books by Niall and Chris and I must say I enjoyed them more now in 2005 than I did 9 years ago. To experience the trials and tribulations of this family in Kilmihil makes me wonder how many people followed their path and relocated to Ireland.Now, 20 years after the 1st book the children are grown,Niall is a world class and best selling novelist and Chris about to publish again soon in 2005.
Read all 4 books in order and I promise you'll be tempted to move to County Clare.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Change in the West of Ireland, February 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Luck of the Irish: Our Life in County Clare (Paperback)

I have thoroughly enjoyed this fourth installment in the saga of Niall & Christine, and Deirdre and Joseph (the first chapter tells of their adoption of Joseph.) This book is very contemplative in nature, and focuses on what it is to belong to a community, a society, a nation. What does it mean to be Irish? to be American? And how are these things changing? Change is the other theme that is present throughout the book. There have been many changes in the West since Niall & Christine first moved there: some good, some bad, but most not so easily classified as "good" or "bad". This book is very thought provoking, and a very enjoyable read. Thank you Niall and Christine for continuing to share your lives with us.