Fintan O'Toole

An unflinching look at Ireland and its capacity to “know and not know” at the same time, this book explores colonization, famine, British occupation and rule, entry into the European Union, and Ireland’s fascination with America. The most challenging aspect of this duality is how the nation both knew and turned a blind eye to rampant corruption, historical clerical abuse, indentured servitude, industrial schools, and the infamous Magdeline Laundries. This is juxtaposed on the recent changes to divorce law, equal marriage, and abortion reform. - Helen… (more)

Irish journalist Fintan O'Toole takes the Billy Joel approach to the history of his nation by starting with the year of his birth. In 1958, when O'Toole was born, the republic was lead by conservative veterans of the Irish war for independence who prioritized cultural causes over all else. The even more conservative Catholic church leaders aimed to make Ireland the model of their form of Christianity. As a result, Ireland was an economically depressed and isolated nation among the most impoverished in all of Europe facing a crisis of massive emigration.

Coincidentally, the Irish government initiated plans for modernizing Ireland in 1958. Over the course of O'Toole's life the country has gone through remarkable change that's seen the fall of solid institutions and the people of Ireland voting to legalize abortion and same sex marriage. Part of the change comes from looking to the United States, makers of Western films the Irish saw themselves in leading to the popularity of Country music. The presidency of John F. Kennedy and his visit to Ireland also stirred a feeling of Irish pride. American investment in tech companies also propped up the success of the Celtic Tiger economy and the inevitable crash of 2008. Looking to Europe also helped as Ireland worked their way through the process of joining what would become the European Union.

But the biggest change is in the Irish people themselves. One of O'Toole's recurring themes is the unwillingness to talk about the rot in the system that everyone knew was there. In politics, the fantastically corrupt taoiseach Charles Haughey's governed through the 1980s and into the early 90s before scandals finally damaged his party. The Church would be rocked by learning of the secret families of famed bishops, the abuse and incarceration of children in Christian Brothers Schools and Magdalene Laundries, and worst of all the hierarchy turning a blind eye to priests' sexual abuse of children. The Troubles broke out in Northern Ireland in 1968 and endured for 30 years adding a daily toll of violence to Irish life. For generations a united Ireland was the only officially acceptable solution, but decades of violence changed the mind of people to support the peace agreement of 1998 that allows for a gradual reunification if the people of Northern Ireland chose it.

O'Toole observed many of the events he describes in the book from afar as a child and young adult (sometimes just watching on TV). But as he becomes a journalist he's often in the thick of things and is a first person witness to the historical changes in Ireland. While not an autobiography, O'Toole uses his personal experience to enhance the history. For example, he talks about how his family and community felt in 1972 that the Irish republic wouldn't inevitably have to fight in a war in the North, which thankfully didn't come to pass. They also thought suspension of the unionist government in Stormont that year meant the Troubles were over, which unfortunately also proved to be false. All told it makes for a fascinating and detailed history of modern Ireland.… (more)

A rather wonderful history of modern Ireland seemingly effortlessly linking O’Toole’s personal experiences to a broadly chronological political, cultural and historical description of Ireland from about 1958 (perhaps an arbitrary date, but O’Toole’s year of birth). It provides a great mix of personal history, yarns and historical analysis, with the well chosen anecdotes lifting it beyond dry narrative history to a well told tale. I was reminded of Annie Ernaux’s The Years, although this is much more relatable to a British reader, and reverses Ernaux’s impersonality into something much more engaging.
I’ve been reading quite a few books by Irish authors over the past few years and this is book is to supplement my understanding. Although I have read a history of Ireland from the Ice Age, I still need to go back and read about the Home Rule movement and civil war.

The Bungalow Bliss chapter reminded me of the house that my parents had built in the early 1970’s which was personalised with Yorkshire stone cladding around the doorway and a long Yorkshire stone fireplace taking up about half the lounge wall. Vernacular houses in our area had traditionally been whitewashed local stone cottages, with thatched, later slate, roofs, very like those described by O’Toole.… (more)