Roise recounts her experiences on the island and details with great vividness the hiring fairs in Strabane and her teenage years on the Lagan (the great farming area in Tyrone, Derry, and east Donegal). Her work on the potato farms of Scotland, the hardship and commitment that 'tatie-hoking' entailed, are all brought into sharp focus. Journeys to and from Scotland are memorably depicted. Her personality, her delight in song and dance, mark many sections of the book. Roise's recollections of both world wars are fascinating, as are her comments on the many changes she has witnessed. Spanning several generations, it is a refreshing record of life on a Donegal island. Translated from Irish by J.J. Keaveney.
