Media Partner Comment by Irish Cultural Society of GC on February 24, 2015 at 8:26am

My copy of That's Just How It Was, ordered from Amazon, is due to arrive today, February 23.  Mary, you get credit for bringing some brightness and warmth into Long Island's bitterly cold February 2015.  Thank you.

John M. Walsh

Heritage Partner Comment by That's Just How It Was on February 24, 2015 at 9:10am

Thank you John ; It is quite cold her in Lancashire UK as well; but we dot as a rule get get the snow that you experience .

Media Partner Comment by Irish Cultural Society of GC on March 5, 2015 at 8:09am

I just finished That's Just How It Was, Mary.  What an engaging way to learn about aspects of 20th century Irish history which are, perhaps, too small to be a part of a general, broader treatment of Irish history.  I didn't know about the donnybrook in Irish Free State government during the 1920s.  I didn't know that de Valera pulled John Bull's cape in cancelling Irish debt owed to Britain.  I didn't know how de Valera's actions worsened the economic depression in Ireland, directly affecting Bridget O'Rourke's pig raising business.  I learned that Bridget (your grandmother) worried that her two sons in the Irish Free State Army might be assigned to keep order during these turbulent years in Ireland.   Your book proves that a family story is, indeed, a history of the time, a time lived by relatives of the author.  Thank you.

John M. Walsh

Heritage Partner Comment by That's Just How It Was on March 5, 2015 at 9:07am

Oh John ; how wonderful that you have enjoyed it ; Thank you so much for your comments . Is it possible taht you could put this review directly on the Amazon site or wherever you bought the book from .

Many ; many thanks . 

Media Partner Comment by Irish Cultural Society of GC on March 5, 2015 at 9:39am

Mary, I will post a fuller review on Amazon.  You made snowy days more tolerable this winter.  Much appreciated.  John

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