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Athenry:

A FAMINE TALE OF LOVE AND SURVIVAL
BY CATHAL DUNNE

Book Review by William F. O’Mahoney-Badzmierowski, M.ED.,
CSW, O Mahony Society Council and Publications Editor

Among the many pieces I’ve embraced in my guitar and vocal
repertoire, The Fields of Athenry holds a singular place of reverence.
As someone devoted to honoring legacy and fostering connection through music and memory,
this ballad speaks to me in both personal and profound ways.
Its gentle, flowing melody lends itself beautifully to guitar and voice—accessible enough for
any player, yet rich with emotional depth. The lyrics, stark and sincere, allow the singer to
inhabit the sorrow and resilience of its characters. Each performance becomes more than a
song; it becomes a tribute.
Set against the backdrop of An Gorta Mór (the Great Hunger), the narrative follows a man
deported for stealing food to feed his family—a quiet act of rebellion, a sacrifice, and a love
story intertwined. Singing it connects me to generations of Irish voices who used music to preserve dignity and memory. As a heritage
steward through the O Mahony Society and gatherings at ÉireannRidge, it feels like a natural extension of my calling.
Whether shared in a pub, at a family gathering, or during a virtual or in-person OMS celebration, The Fields of Athenry invites others
to join in. Its chorus is made for harmonies, for shared emotion, for collective remembrance. Each time I sing it, I’m not merely
performing—I’m bridging past and present, honoring those who came before, and inspiring those who listen. It is, in every sense, a
living history lesson wrapped in melody.
Perhaps this is why I was so drawn to the recent re-publication of Athenry: A Famine Tale of Love and Survival by Cathal Dunne. This
delightful book tells an epic historical saga of survival, sacrifice and the unbreakable bonds of family.

The potato blight turns green fields black overnight. A million will die. A million more will flee. But Liam O'Donaghue refuses to
watch his family starve. In the shadow of Galway's cliffs, Liam has carved out a life training Connemara ponies while working on his
landlord's estate and loving his wife Máire. When their newborn son arrives, their happiness seems complete. But when the Great
Famine strikes with merciless fury, survival becomes the only currency that matters.

One desperate night. One choice that changes everything.
Torn from the only world he's ever known, Liam must find his way across unforgiving landscapes, oceans and continents. From the
desperation of the famine, where a man's life is worth less than a bag of grain, to the abundance of Australian gold rushes, where
he meets his friend Kumba. Together, they journey onward to the California gold rushes, chasing fortune and the hope of return.
Meanwhile, Máire faces her own battle to keep their son alive in a land where hope itself has withered. From the green hills of
Connemara to shores unknown, this is the story of love tested by impossible odds and the fierce determination of the Irish heart.
Michelle O Mahony O Driscoll (OM-History Consultant, author of Famine in Cork City and contributor to The Atlas of the Great Irish
Famine) tells us that “it is an epic storytelling at its finest. From the first page, you're swept into a world of heartbreak and hope that
will stay with you forever. This is the Irish Famine novel we've been waiting for.”
Cathal Dunne is a professional singer, songwriter, pianist, author and storyteller. He holds a degree in Music
from University College Cork. In 1979 he represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest with his own
song, Happy Man. Originally from Cork City, he now resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA with his wife
and family and continues to perform across America. This is his second book.
Athenry: A Famine Tale of Love and Survival by Cathal Dunne is Available through Mercier Press, IE; the
Barnes and Noble website; and at Amazon.com. The O Mahony Society does not receive any portion of
any sale.
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