An Irish History

The lure of a more promising life in Canada drew gentleman farmer Sean, his wife Maggie, and their six children away from the gloomy and tumultuous outlook they faced in their native Ireland. Over the years, Sean's work in the food industry and other management positions allowed the talented, hard-working family to enjoy a comfortable, though modest, lifestyle in rural Quebec and Ontario. The routine workings of a large household are laced with love and loss, and the passages of time are peppered with tragedy, triumph, and new beginnings. Author Maeve Omstead Johnston tells the tender, historically inspired story with a courageous voice and an insider's touch. An Irish History explores the issues of marriage, friendship, parenthood, and aging while highlighting the economic struggle and ravages of war that dominated the early 1900s through to the middle of that century. Most of all, this endearing tale builds an intimate and lasting relationship between the reader and the remarkable family depicted on its pages.