Farm by Lough Gur, The

Mary ‘Sissy’ Fogarty’s (née O’Brien) memories of growing up in rural late nineteenth century Ireland as told by her friend, Mary Carberry.

First published in 1937, this is the true story of a middle-class farming family living by an enchanted lake in rural Limerick in the late nineteenth century. This book is a rare narrative of family and community life in times past.

Sissy and her siblings grew up surrounded by faith and folklore. Sissy tells not only of her own happy family life, but of life and death in the wider community, and old stories that had been passed down through generations.

This book provides valuable insight into many facets of Irish country life, from emigration to weddings arranged by matchmakers, to children being born out of wedlock. It details important Irish traditions such as wakes (social gatherings) for the dead or ‘living wakes’ for person emigrating.

The story concludes upon Sissy’s marriage to a neighbouring farmer.

Mary Carbery (1867-1949) was an English author.

£6.99