Book Review of 'Irish Working Lives' by Des Kenny
Fourteen Irish Working lives are highlighted in the book and include - amongst others - a Birdman, an Embalmer, a Gardener, a Sewer Man a Chiropodist a Train Driver and an Air Traffic Controller.
The cover of the recently published book “Irish Working Lives” written by Marie Louise O’Donnell, illustrated by Eric Luke’s photographs is inviting and attractive, one of those rare occasions when a book can be judged by its cover.
Over her broadcasting career O’Donnell has had the opportunity to work closely with many Irish men and women, sharing their working lives, gaining a unique insight into their day to day duties of their and learning what motivates and inspires them in their sometimes unusual occupations.
This book tells us the “story of these encounters -by turns candid and lyrical - and illuminates the ways in which these individuals perceive their chosen occupations, it's day-to-day demands and the inextricable relationship between work life and spiritual life.”
Fourteen Irish Working lives are highlighted in the book and include - amongst others - a Birdman, an Embalmer, a Gardener, a Sewer Man a Chiropodist a Train Driver and an Air Traffic Controller. The fourteen narratives are warm and enthusiastic ably abetted by wonderful and sensitive photographs. It is difficult not to be moved - even inspired - by them.
Coming from the length and breadth of Ireland, two of these stories have a strong Galway connection, Paul Johnson the Thatcher and Marita Goggins the Gardener.
Paul Johnson’s narrative is that of a man dedicated to his craft. From Co Louth, he qualified as an electronic engineer and worked in England where he also played in a rhythm and blues band. The drummer into the band was a master thatcher and from him Johnson learned the trade of thatching.
He now lives in Kinvara and in this chapter O’Donnell joins him as he thatches a two hundred and fifty- year- old cottage which “lies if the eye of Curranroo Bay” The chapter describes the thatching in wonderful detail ending with these words from Johnson: “If my creativity was taken away from me, I would die. I would jus shrivel up and die, if I could not create something with my hands, be it a lovely frame door made from wood that I spotted, or a stool, or a thatch roof or music or painting or something. To create something is to be around the nearest place to God……..”If somebody, anybody, asked me who are you? I would tell them, I’m a thatcher”.
The second Galway story begins with “There is a strange warmth in the garden. Strange and comforting. Even though the day is cool, and the garden is built against a Galway limestone surround, looking out over the choppy Salthill shore, there is a warmth.” We meet Martina Goggins, traditional musician, who lost her son in a tragic road accident and who, to come to terms with her grief, built the Circle of Life donor garden in Salthill, thus providing a place of refuge to help others come to terms with their own loss. Although not necessarily religious, the story is imbued with a strong spirituality that is uplifting and inspirational.
“Irish Working Lives” is a pleasure to read, a most suitable gift for anybody recovering from a trauma, or indeed anybody who enjoys a good read.