My name is Mary Thorpe and I am the author of the above named book The YouTube link below will take you to the Video that I had done to promote my book ;
I would appreciate it if you could show this to members of the Irish Centre / or Students of Irish History /clients / customers or friends -as I do believe it will hold a great deal of interest for Irish emigrants and their descendant wherever they may be
Thank you
– Please take a chance on me ; if the books do not sell ; they can be returned to Authorhouse ; guaranteed
– Regards Mary Thorpe
The YouTube link below will take you to the Video that I had done to promote my book ; as above
I would appreciate it if you could show this to members of the Irish Centre / or Students of Irish History /clients / customers or friends -as I do believe it will hold a great deal of interest for Irish emigrants and their descendant wherever they may be
Thank you
– Regards Mary Thorpe
Youtube: http://youtu.be/oT0oOa0jx28
Youtube: http://youtu.be/oT0oOa0jx28
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Professional Book Reviews below
“That’s Just How It Was is a moving family tale through which much can be gleaned about life during the push for Irish independence… This is a satisfying, emotionally involving read.”- Clarion Review
“Authors of family memoirs often overload their narratives with minutiae that puts nonfamily members to sleep. There are no such encumbrances in Mary Thorpe’s biography of her remarkable grandmother, Bridget O’Rourke. Thorpe…carefully blends Bridget’s story with the events of her day, some of the most pivotal events in Ireland’s history.”- Blueink Review
“Thorpe compellingly incorporates history into her grandmother’s story, always making sure to bring the narrative back to Bridget’s life and personal experience ….. a compelling story of a strong, capable woman and the history that surrounded her “.- Kirkus Review
Besides Kindle ; Amazon ;Barnesandnoble and Authorhouse Solutions ; Gardners Whole books UK , Berthams ; Inghams – bulk orders can be made via the below connections
jturner@contentdistributors.com (888) 728-8467 ext. 5908 Fax: 1-812-339 6554
Email: orders@bookmasters.com Phone: 800-247-6553 Fax: 419-281-6883
ISBN 978-1-8985=5
I am now in the process of attempting to start my 2nd book .It is a follow up to my first book which is called “That’s just how it was”.
I am having great difficulty in getting the words to flow – and I wonder is this what’s called ‘writers block’ or on my part is it called ‘a senior moment ‘!! .
My first book takes the reader back through Irish History starting at the “Greta Hunger” Famine of 1844 right through to 1936 when Ireland had become a Free State.
This latest book will attempt to explore the background of Irish History from 1936 onwards following Bridget life in Wolfe Tone .
All of this has been a labour of love for me as I absolutely adored my Grandmother – my first book – was a tribute to her . Its just a same that it has taken me so long to write these books as I had always had it in my head taht one day I was going to write about the harsh times that she lived through.
Researching my maternal roots and background overwhelmed me with emotion and I longed to be able to give her the comfort of being there for her- to care her- to look after, in the manner in which she had cared for others.
Of course ignorance played a hugh part in those times and ‘making do and mending’ and ‘getting by from day to day’ -was tough; so people had not got the knowledge ; learning ; education ; call it by whatever name it was ; it was a time of poverty; deprecation ; harsh rules; not knowing where the next bite to eat would come from . No luxury of housing , TVs ; Cars etc.
So now in my retirement I have found my way into teh history books and I will continue to write about these time , even if no-one buys my books. It will Purge my soul !!!!!
That’s Just How It Was
My journey to become a Social Worker and then an Author began in Wolfetone Sq Bray Co Wicklow.
My Grandmother was an inspiration to me all my life. While my mother had to go out to work my Grandmother provided the support /care and meals for the 5 grand- children that lived with her. . Not forgetting the grandchild that she had raised as her own when her eldest daughter gave birth out of wedlock 1933. (Read my book “That’s just how it was” –it’s on Amazon)
As the years went by – I worked at just about everything to earn a living – and like most young people in Ireland of my era; University was not an option.
When work dried up –again like the thousands /thousands of other young Irish people I took the emigration route to find work. Much to my Grandmothers dismay (and tears) I left Wolfetone to find a more fruitful and worth-while job and life in the Northern Town of Huddersfield. (Or so I thought- was I in for a shock!!!!) I was not prepared for the home-sickness that would overwhelm me – but I knew that I needed to work to send some money home.
Letter after letter arrived to tell me to come home that we would manage. By this time however, I had met my husband ‘to be’. He was a master stonemason and felt insulted if people would refer to him as a bricklayer.
I so wanted to go home and get married with my family by my side – but money was a deciding factor in the decision to get married in St. Bridget’s RC Church Huddersfield. (A decision that I have regretted for the rest of my life)
My Mammy and sister Ann plus some of my Mams friends came over for my wedding; however my Dad was very ill at the time and could not make the journey. He sent a telegram – in those days Telegrams were the norm as Telephones were not prevalent. I still have that telegram.
The day I got married was 15th March 1969 and the snow was thick on the ground; everyone had spades and shovels to dig the snow away from the Church door before I could get out of the car.
The following January 21st 1970 my Dad died so he never got to see my firstborn. My Grandmother had a severe stroke so was therefore unable to comprehend that my baby who she was so looking forward to holding in her arms- was placed on the bed beside her. She died the next day.
marythorpe 