Galway Bay Book Discussion
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An OnlineDiscussion of Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly
This book, Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly, is one of my favorites of all time.
A family saga about the Irish potato famine, the first half of the book is about family life in Ireland in the mid-1800's. The second half is about the family's journey to America, ending as the Chicago Worlds Fair is taking place in 1893. The author, Mary Pat Kelly, is working on a sequel that follows the family from this point forward.
This book is perfect for discussion with a group and on this page you will find reading guide questions from the author's website that you can answer right here.
Anyone can participate! If you have read the book, why not add your answers to the reading guide questions here. If you haven't read it, and this sounds intriguing, please bookmark this page and come back after you've read it.
Image Credit: The Great Famine by derpunk on Flickr
About the Book "Galway Bay"
by Mary Pat Kelly
Mary Pat Kelly tells the story of an Irish family named Keeley (Kelly) that survives the potato famine, ending up in the Chicago area of Brightwood. It just happens to be the story of Kelly's own family, told through the eyes of her great-great-great grandmother Honora Keeley. Through extensive research and the personal stories of her cousin, Agnella (who lived to be 107), Kelly weaves a tale that is spell-binding.
The first half of the book takes place in Ireland (Connemara in County Galway) as Honora and her husband Michael build a family and a life growing potatoes. The second half of the book takes us on the journey to "Amerikay" and we see a fascinating look at the beginnings of the city of Chicago.
You can purchase the book right here through Amazon. It is available in hardcover or Kindle-form.
Galway Bay
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 02/18/2012)
This book was extremely personal to me since my own great-great grandfather arrived in Grosse-Ile, Quebec in 1846, my sister and I visited Counties Galway and Mayo in 2008, and I now live near Chicago.
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“Heartbreaking
and
heartwarming!”
How's Your Gaelic?
Test yourself with this quiz - all words were in the book.
What do each of the following words mean?
Question 1
The theme of survival as victory...
"We wouldn't die," Honora tells her great-granddaughter. The theme of survival as victory informs Galway Bay. What qualities allow a person to triumph over horrific circumstances? Do Honora, Michael, Maire, Granny and others show such characteristics? What motivates them, gives them strength? Have you faced difficulties in your own life that demanded such determination? Have your ancestors struggled through historic calamities? Do you think knowing their stories enhances your life, or do you think the past is past and should be forgotten? Have you looked into your genealogy? If so, how does what you discovered affect you?
kimmanleyort wrote...
I started reading this book again and learned that one million people died during the famine and two million escaped. My family would not be here today if not for those survivors. Surviving horrific circumstances and not letting it defeat your spirit is victory.
Posted March 29, 2010
windygig wrote...
yup. and going there. felt more connected to family history.
Posted March 24, 2010
Question 2
Are situations like the potato famine happening today?
The novel opens in the "before times," when despite hardship and oppression the characters have created a place for themselves where songs, stories, communal celebration, faith and family life can bring happiness. Did you find this portrayal believable? How does the way the Keeley family, Honora and Michael Kelly, Maire and Owen Mulloy compare with the way the landlords and British government regarded them? Do you think there are present-day communities judged differently by the larger society?
Do you think there are present-day communities judged differently by the larger society?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byNo, not exactly. We have grown beyond this type of society.
Yes, it is still happening today and here is an example.
kimmanleyort says:
Yes, unfortunately, what happened during the potato famine was a form of genocide and there have been similar examples in the last 50 years, the names Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Darfur, Bosnia come to mind.
Posted April 12, 2010
Question 3
Love at first sight
Many couples in literature fall in love at first sight, as do Honora and Michael. Do you believe in such instant attraction? Can it lead to long-lasting love? What do you think of the relationship between Honora and Patrick? How would you characterize Maire's attitude toward men and marriage?
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, of course.
4U2C says:
Well, that is a good question, and deserves an answer. My husband swears that when I came out from the back of my jewelry store, to wait on him, he thought to himself - "If she's available, I'm going to marry her". We got married, a year and three months later. I believe!
Posted April 20, 2010
Wednesday_Elf says:
I've seen instant attraction leading to long-lasting love in both my 45-year marriage to my best friend and soulmate, and in my daughter. When my daughter began telling me about the man she met one day, I recognized the exact same 'instant' attraction I experienced and knew well before she did that she'd met the man she eventually married. I truly believe in love at first sight!
Posted March 29, 2010
Joan4 says:
Oh yes, I believe in love at first sight - and after almost 50 years of marriage, I still can easily remember telling my mom, "I just met the man I am going to marry!" :)
Posted March 24, 2010
No, it takes time to really love someone.
kimmanleyort says:
Well yes, I really do believe in love at first sight but I like the way Pat describes it as instant attraction leading to long-lasting love. It takes real commitment to truly love someone forever. The instant attraction, though, is intuitive, not surface. It is like the deepest part of you recognizes the deepest part of the other. There is an instant connection.
Posted March 29, 2010
Question 4
Sons or Daughters going to War
The two main women characters, Honora and Maire, do not conform to the usual stereotype of a 19th Century Irish woman. Do you think this is a strength or weakness of the novel? The two sisters have quite different characteristics and beliefs. Do you think they complement each other or do the differences bring mostly conflict? Honora and Maire's biggest disagreement comes when their sons enlist in the Civil War. What do you think of each mother's reaction and the way each chooses to cope with having their sons in combat?
kimmanleyort wrote...
I'm not sure what the usual stereotype of a 19th century Irish woman is. Honora and Maire were perfect examples of strong women and mothers, who loved their God and their homeland. Their personalities are very different, but for the most part they get along well and always have each other's back. The only time they had trouble was when their sons went to war. Maire flat out did not want her sons going to war. Honora was one who saw other sides to the issue and reluctantly went along.
Posted April 21, 2010
Question 5
Prayer and Ritual
Prayer and ritual play an important part in Galway Bay. What do you think of Honora's beliefs, of Maire's?
Are there issues raised between them that have relevance to the practice of religion now?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, and here is an example.
kimmanleyort says:
I found the religious aspect very interesting. As someone who was brought up Catholic, and descended from Irish Catholics, I saw in this book a healthy resistance to hierarchy, yet still maintaining a strong faith in God.
Posted April 12, 2010
No, this is not relevant today.
Celtic Cross
Available on Imagekind
Celtic Cross by Kim Manley Ort
Question 6
Children and Trauma
Children have a central role in Galway Bay. What does each one - Paddy, Jamesy, Bridget, Stephen, Michael, Johnny Og, Thomas, Daniel and Gracie - reveal about the effect horrific circumstances have on a child? How do these early experiences mark the children as they become adults?
kimmanleyort wrote...
Children seem to be quite resilient here as they often are in life. It helps that they had a strong family to fall back on.
Posted April 21, 2010
Question 7
Did you learn something new?
Galway Bay incorporates characters and incidents from Irish-American history that are not widely known. Were you surprised by people such as James Mulligan and Billy Caldwell, and events such as the Irish units fighting each other in the Civil War and the Fenian Invasion of Canada? Was anything else new to you?
1
Macdara - Celtic Saint
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macdara0 points
2
Fenian Invasion of Canada!
0 points
Question 8
Non-Violence or War
Honora argues against the use of physical force to liberate Ireland. "I want my sons to live for Ireland, not to die for it," she tells Patrick. He maintains that freedom must be won by armed struggle. What do you think of each one's position? How are the same issues debated today?
What do you think of the use of physical force to liberate Ireland?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand by1. Freedom must be won by armed struggle.
2. Freedom can be won in non-violent ways.
kimmanleyort says:
Oh yes, I truly believe that freedom can be won in non-violent ways, Gandhi being the most visible example although there are many examples. We are far too quick to jump into war.
Posted April 23, 2010
Sky Road, Clifden, Connemara, County Galway
Sky Road, Clifden, Ireland by Kim Manley Ort
Question 9
What about immigrants today?
One million Irish people died from starvation and related diseases while food was being exported from the country. How does the novel explore this situation? What do you make of the relief efforts attempted? Do any contemporary situations come to mind? Honora calls the escape of her family and two million more Irish from the Great Starvation "one of the greatest rescues in human history" and says, "We saved ourselves." What do you think she means? What effect do you think those immigrants and their descendants - now 44 million - have had on the United States? How does their story resonate for present-day immigrants?
kimmanleyort wrote...
I know that my descendants, who arrived in Grosse-Ile, Quebec and ended up in Merriton, Ontario were instrumental in building the canals between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, enabling boats to bypass Niagara Falls.
Posted April 12, 2010
Question 10
Connecting with your ancestors...
Honora takes her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to the Irish Villages at the World's Columbian Exhibition to connect them to a heritage she hasn't been able to pass down to them. Do you understand her disappointment at the display? Do you think it is possible to connect with the true culture of our ancestors? Is it desirable? Little Agnella's interest encourages Honora. All will be well. Do you believe one child's understanding can really make such a difference?
Is it possible to connect with the true culture of our ancestors?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand by1. Yes, it stays with us.
2. No, if in another country, you cannot truly connect.
kimmanleyort says:
I don't believe we can connect 100%, but we can come to some understanding.
Posted April 23, 2010
Vote for your Favorite Character
Add Your Favorite Line from the Book
or Vote for Your Favorite
I crawled to another patch and plunged my hand into the foul-smelling mess. I felt a hard lump-a good potato. But when I grabbed it, the potato fell apart in my hand, oozing through my fingers.(Page 128)
0 points
Honora, do you wonder why we are alive?
So many have been taken, not only families like th more...0 points
...wild seas, terrible winds, people screaming with fear, vomit and waste
ankle-deep, a forty-day crossing with water for on more...0 points
Death is my enemy. I can't make death an ally. I've fought against it too long." - Honora (pg. 416)
0 points
You're making God very small, a stor. Look out at this grand expanse of
water. Do you think the Creator of all that's worr more...0 points
It's only that feelings seems such a puny word for what's between us, Honora. - Patrick (pg. 506)
0 points
No songs are written about the glory of starving to death. - Honora (pg. 522)
0 points
Medical Outsourcing Services
Medical outsourcing services provide obtained recognition more...0 points
Latest News about Galway Bay
* Producer Jean Doumanian, is developing a television mini-series about Galway Bay.
* Author Mary Pat Kelly is working on the sequel - Kelly Green - where the next generation moves through the Roaring Twenties, two World Wars and the controversial rise of Honora's grandson Ed Kelly' to Mayor of Chicago.
All questions are from
Mary Pat Kelly's official website.
Be sure to visit.
Who's blogging about Galway Bay?
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If you buy any of the books recommended above, this page automatically makes a donation to the incredible nonprofit, Donors Choose, which helps provide classrooms and students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. Have you read Galway Bay?
If not, what are you waiting for?
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GrowWear
Apr 3, 2010 @ 6:02 pm | delete
- Have not read Galway Bay, but this is a great way to explore a book more and to enjoy it with others. Kudos! What a great idea!
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Wednesday_Elf
Mar 29, 2010 @ 7:42 am | delete
- A very interesting and thought-provoking book review and reading group. I will have to check out Galway Bay.
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JoyfulPamela
Mar 27, 2010 @ 10:29 am | delete
- This is so cool! I hope I have time to read it all and participate!
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Norma_Budden
Mar 25, 2010 @ 12:37 pm | delete
- I must revisit this lens a little later in the day. I have not read this book but I'm curious as to what I may learn. I absolutely love the presentation of your lens...
I came to congratulate you, as my new Purple Squid, on your newly received purple star. However, I must ask if you are interested in taking a look at my lens featuring the lenses which have received my Angel Blessings?
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clouda9
Mar 24, 2010 @ 6:53 pm | delete
- Lots of thought has gone into this lens and the idea as a whole. Great way to participate online as you read the books.
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