Book description
In the Dublin of 1922 with Civil War about to break out, working
class Annie Reilly is thrilled to win a scholarship to Eccles Street
Convent School. A little frozen out by her old friends, yet not wholly
accepted by all of her new classmates, she is pleased to be befriended
by Susie O'Neill an easy-going girl from a much more comfortable
background. Through Susie's brother, Annie meets Peter Scanlon, a
neighbour of the O'Neill's and a pupil at Belvedere college. Having
been radicalised by the execution of Kevin Barry, another Belvedere
pupil, Peter becomes involved with the rebels who oppose the Treaty
with Britain, and who are in conflict with the forces of the newly
formed Irish Free State. As families and friends across the nation are
forced to choose sides, and with Peter's conservative parents unaware
of the dangerous role their son is adopting, Annie and Peter find
their friendship coming under strain. While all of the friends try to
enjoy normal life - engaging in after-school classes, sports and
concerts - there is no escaping the conflict that is rocking the
country. Annie and Peter argue, but when he risks everything for his
friend, Annie too has to struggle with loyalty and the notion of
informing on a friend, when other peoples' lives are in the balance.
Brian Gallagher was born in Dublin. He is a full-time writer whose
plays and short stories have been produced in Ireland, Britain and
Canada. He has written extensively for radio and television and is one
of the scriptwriters on RTE's long-running drama Fair City. He
collaborated with composer Shaun Purcell on the musical, Larkin, for
which he wrote the book and lyrics, and on Winds of Change for RTE's
Lyric FM. His latest show is Whiskey in the Jar, a musical for which he
wrote the book and lyrics, with music by Dave 'Doc' O'Connor. His novels
Invincible, Flight, Payback and Pursuit have won widespread praise, and
he is currently working on a new novel. Outside of writing his interests
include travel, tennis, music and inland waterways. He lives with his
family in Dublin.
