The story begins with Honora Keeley making plans to begin life as a nun. However, this is not to be. While walking along Galway Bay she sees a man, who appears to be drowning. He isn’t and he turns out to be none other than Michael Kelly, her future husband. Theirs is a love at first sight type of love story. From the beginning you feel the fierce love they share, the strong bond, the willingness to do anything for each other. They marry, although not without many hardships concerning Honora’s sister, Maire. Back in the day the landlords who the people leased their land from were allowed to take a bride price-meaning they could take the bride on her first night away from her husband. Honora’s sister saved her from that but unfortunately put herself into a very awful circumstance.
Honora and Michael make a home and are doing well. They build a home up on a hill overlooking Galway Bay with a big window just for Honora. They plant pratties-potatoes as all the community does-it is their only staple food as the government exports everything else. They will have food all winter or so they thought; unfortunately the blight hits Ireland hard and all the potatoes rot and are inedible. If this had happened for one year, families would have been able to survive. However, it continued on for four years and the government refused to help the people. People were starving and dying not only of starvation but of disease. Honora and Michael were devastated watching their children fading away to nothing. They vowed to each other that their children would live.
More tradegy hits the Kellys and Honora knows she must leave Ireland. She must do what she can for her family so she and Maire take their brood of children by ship to Chicago. America is a whole new world for them, one in which they aren’t easily accepted. Through pure strength of will though the two of them do succeed and do well in spite of everything. Their sons go to war, marry and have children of their own.
Mary Pat Kelly’s writing is wonderful. The research and family stories she put together for this novel amazing. Galway Bay spans six generations. I can’t help but admire having such a rich family history. Honora was, in fact, Mary’s great-great grandmother. This novel in turn made me laugh at times and cry at others. I was horrified by the hardships the family had in Ireland and elated at their victories in America. Mary Pat Kelly takes her readers so fully into the tale that you feel as though you are a part of it all-you made this journey with Honora and Maire and the kids to America. Again, this was a piece of history that I was unaware of and this novel has brought it to the forefront of my mind. As I write this I am watching a program on the The Great Famine on television. It was strange how it just happened to coincide with me finishing this novel. As I’m watching I am continually being reminded of the journey that Honora and Maire took and seeing the pictures and hearing the facts only makes it more scary to me. They were brave and amazing woman who single handedly made sure that there were generations of their family to come for a long time.
I would absolutely recommend this novel especially to those wanting to know more about the Irish-their faith, songs and stories and to those interested in learning a bit more about the struggle of the Irish during The Great Starvation. It’s almost impossible to encompass in a review all that this book holds. There is romance and history and above all, the enduring love of family-such a rich story so worth reading. I also have to mention the book cover itself which is absolutely beautiful. I would like to thank Miriam from Hachette for sending me this lovely book and having me participate in the blog tour for Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly.
- You can visit Mary Pat Kelly’s website here.
- You can visit Mary Pat Kelly’s blog here.
- You can read an article by Mary Pat Kelly on what an honor it was for her to write Galway Bay here.
- You can read a letter from Mary Pat Kelly on the research that went into the writing of Galway Bay here.
Super review — thanks!
I love the cover of this book and your review makes it sound like one that I would totally enjoy. I think I’m going to list it as a must-read for this summer!! Thanks Dar!
Happy Blog Tour.. Fantastic Review as always… I always want to say.. “yeah…what she said.” 🙂 Dar.. I just loved this book. I can’t seem to get it out of my head.
Great review! I have my review and giveaway up today! Top o the mornin’ to ya!
Ireland fascinates me. I read Star of the Sea by Joseph O’Connor and the blight was discussed in that book as well. I couldn’t believe how all those people were just left to die, right there in the street.
Anyway, great review. I am going to wait to read the other reviews as I haven’t read the book yet but I’m glad you enjoyed it. I like a book that I can sink my teeth into too.
Awesome review, Dar!!! Happy St. Patty’s Day to you!
Wow, this sounds like a really wonderful book. I’ll have to give it a try…great review!
Terrific review. I thought the book was simply wonderful. I don’t think I’ve seen a negative review yet!
Great review, Dar! I’m posting mine, along with a giveaway, tomorrow.
This looks soooo good!! Sometimes I just like to get lost in a big old family saga.
This sounds like a wonderful book Dar. I enjoy family sagas and reading about other cultures. Great review!
Wow! Everyone is really loving this book–glad you did too! I can’t believe all the reserach that Kelly put into the book–must truly be a labor of love.
This book sounds fabulous. I do like reading about how the Irish travelled to America to begin a new life. It is awful how badly the potato blight affected the Irish, I remember being taught about it at school. Another one to add to my list.
Fantastic review…I see this book everywhere today! It sounds like one I would really enjoy!
This is the perfect day for the book tour for *Galway Bay*! I’ve seen several reviews as I’ve been working my way thru the Reader, and they’re all positive.
My gr-grandparents came over from Ireland, but I can’t yet find documentation as to where/when … another family mystery!
Mary Pat Kelly inspires me with all her research!
Awesome review sweetie! Looking forward to tomorrow’s post.
Wow, this book sounds fabulous. I will be back tomorrow for the guest post.
this sounds so good and I like the cover.
great review 😉
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
Great review! I definitely want to read this one now.
Wonderful review Dar! I was caught up in the first part due to the stories. My grandmother held on to her Irish heritage and I was always captured by her tales. It’s definitely one I will keep and treasure!
I loved this book too! Great review.
I bet this would be absolutely amazing to listen to on audiobook!
Thanks everyone for stopping by my review of Galway Bay. It was a great tour and I really enjoyed reading everyone else’s thoughts on the book. For those who haven’t read it, I hope you get a chance to. It really is a wonderful novel.
What a great review, Dar! I’m glad you loved this book as much as I did. I can’t believe how many times it moved me to tears and how fast I burned through this pretty long book. The characters were captivating, and I learned a lot about Irish history as well. Definitely one of my all-time faves.
–Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
Beth, April, Sam, Jenn, Jenny, Jo-Jo, Naida, Swapna, Kathy, thanks 🙂
Staci, I’m sure you’ll be reading this one soon…
Toni, I feel the same. This story will stick with me for a while.
Serena, I’m glad you liked it too.
Ti, Ireland fascinates me too. A girlfriend of mine used to go every year with her dad. I just loved hearing about their trip and seeing the pictures. I liked learning some of the history of Ireland with this book.
Holly, I haven’t seen any negative reviews of the book either. I’m glad you liked it too.
Lenore, Bonnie, me too. You really get into the characters lives with a book of this size.
Trish, looks like you may get a chance to read this soon with Laura winning it. lol.
Viv, I couldn’t believe the potato blight. I had no idea something like this could even happen before this book. We sure were never taught anything about it in school and my parents didn’t say anything until I had asked them about something like this happening. Very terrifying when you depend on the potatoes for your survival.
Amy, I think you’d definitely enjoy this one. I hope you’ll get a chance to read it.
Dawn, wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could trace back your family history and find out exactly where they were from, etc. I think it would be fascinating.
Luanne, it must have been so wonderful to sit and listen to your grandmother’s tales. I would have loved that.
Teddy, thanks. I’m glad you liked it too. I think mostly everyone did.
Tink, it would be great on audio I bet. Long, but good.
Anna, I was the same. I was moved to tears many times and joy at others. Learning something new is always a plus for me too.