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even small birds fly free

Padraig O'Gorman

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English
Icon O'Clast Press
15 December 2024
n the middle of the 19th century, a disease hits potato crops across Europe, which has a devastating effect on small tenant farmers in Ireland. The Westminster government recognises it as the hand of God and does not intervene.

A million people die and a further two million people are forced to emigrate as refugees, mainly to the new world of the United States.

This is the story of five people, three who emigrate to America and are swept up in the division of the country which leads to civil war.

Brothers Padraig and Caelan from Skibbereen travel to the New World and end up on opposite sides of the conflict. Mary arrives as a refugee in Five Points and is caught up in the turbulence of New York City.

Peadar, Mary's father, finds work on a Famine Road in County Cork. Cormac seeks refuge among Boleymen on the Sheep's Head peninsula.

The intimate portrayal of these five lives traces a traumatic time when the face of both Ireland and the United States are changed through the devastation of one culture and the reckoning of another.
By:  
Imprint:   Icon O'Clast Press
Country of Publication:   Ireland
Dimensions:   Height: 234mm,  Width: 156mm,  Spine: 19mm
Weight:   425g
ISBN:   9780995784307
ISBN 10:   0995784302
Pages:   302
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Author Website:   http://www.padraigogorman.ie

Padraig O'Gorman divides his time between his home in Clonakilty, County Cork and Vienna, Austria.He was born in Blackrock, Cork; His family moved to Mallow shortly after. Leaving Westland Row CBS, he joined The Spiritans in 1964, spending 4 years in seminary until it became clear celibacy would get in the way of a full life. Graduating from University College Dublin, he, like many of his generation, left Ireland in 1970.In 1973, he gave up his job with Esso Petroleum, London, because he felt squeezed into shape by corporate culture and joined the hippie trail to Asia, travelling extensively for one year and living in community in Delhi for a further year.He has spent his life in development. Establishing in 1991, a 'not for profit' community cooperative, Cartref Ni Ltd (means ""our Home"" in Welsh) in North Wales, to provide support to disabled people to live in their own home with the right support. It celebrated its silver jubilee in 2016.Subsequently, he spent 20 years in international development, mostly in Asia but also the Caribbean and Eastern Europe working with local non governmental organisations supporting street-based drug users. This was a rich experience which meant that he became comfortable cross-culturally on the streets of many countries in the world.The first novel 'The Drowning of Innocence is a product of extensive research, in clouding an online course with Trinity College, Dublin and one year full-time on the road with his wife Denise in their VWT3 campervan. The main inspiration for the story is to communicate to his grandson, Ezra (who, at the grand old age of two, became a naturalised Irish citizen), what being Irish means putting him in touch with his heritage.Padraig's second novel 'Small Birds Fly Free', telling the story of five people who survive the Irish Famine, An Gorta Mor, migrate to America and embroiled in the American Civil War. The story deals with imperialism, refugee status, the American caste system underpinning the civil war conflict and racism. It has been published on December 15th 2024. He is a member of the Vienna Storytelling Collective which meets monthly at Cafe Korb, Vienna and Spoken Word, deBarras, Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland. You can view his short stories on his website

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