Brigid The Girl from County Clare: A heart-rending tale of Irish immigration in the 1880s
Like making lace – she pieces together a new life from a single thread of hope
Eighteen-year-old Brigid faces an unimaginable choice. If she stays in her beloved Ireland, she is another mouth to feed in a land plagued by starvation and poverty. If she leaves, she will never see her family again. But leave she must. There is not enough food.
Heartbroken, she boards the ship that will take her to a new life in Australia. On the journey, Brigid meets a rough-and-ready Scots girl who will become her best friend, a man who beguiles her, and a fellow Irish woman who will cause no end of trouble.
Brigid’s skill as a lacemaker soon attracts attention, but her selfless nature is what draws people to her. When the burden of choice is forced upon her once again, Brigid must find an inner strength she doesn’t realise she has if she is to fulfil her dream.
A new start in New Zealand offers hope – until the day she encounters the man who seeks her downfall.
Counterpart to Gwenna the Welsh Confectioner and prequel to The Costumier’s Gift.
Part of The New Zealand Immigrant Collection set in Ireland, Queensland and Auckland, New Zealand.
In 2017, The Girl from County Clare became the 150th review posted by Flaxroots, a review website for New Zealand authors I often recommend. Since then the titled has been updated to Brigid The Girl from County Clare but the content remains the same.
Thank you Flaxroots for such a wonderful review and for giving me the 150th posting. I am honoured.
As I turned the pages I was taunted by the possibility that the seeds of integrity planted by an eighteen year old girl from County Clare could germinate and grow strongly enough to outmanoeuvre these threats so far from her native home. Vicky Adin leaves us in no doubt about the answer to that question. And at the same time provides an insight into what hope and determination can do when mixed with a bit of Irish charm.
I found this a delightful novel that was hard to put down. It has been well researched and reflects considerable understanding of the attitudes of the era. After reading the book I felt I knew and sympathised with the characters.
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in people. Review by Peter Thomas
Praise for Brigid The Girl From County Clare:
This was a delightful book and reminded me of an author that got me hooked on great stories about everyday people and their struggles to make a better life for themselves. It is not often that I put a book in the same sentence as Catherine Cookson, but this book fits. IndieBRAG reader.
The historical aspects of the story are so accurate and described so perfectly that the reader will frequently need to remind herself/himself that the story is fiction….This is a thoroughly satisfying read. It is the kind of story that passes the test as a work of history and is equally satisfying as a novel that will have your attention from first to last. 4 stars – Frank O’Shea, The Irish Echo, Sydney
The book flows very well…keeping you ever wondering what is going to happen to Brigid next. (will she succeed in making a successful life?) There was never a slow part of the book…keeping you quickly turning the pages for more. Highly recommended and look forward to more books by this author – IndieBRAG reader.
New Zealand Readers: To request a personally autographed print book, please contact me