The Beauty of Belonging
Novel in progress
Writer
Joe and Eileen McMahon are 16 and 8 when their story begins in tragedy; they are the only survivors of the fire that claims the lives of the other members of their family. Joe raises Eileen alone during the harrowing time of the early 20th century. They are both witnesses to the historic battle being fought for Ireland’s soul, through the War of Independence, the Civil War, the rise of the church-dominated State, all the while traversing the intimate terrain of their own first loves, their separations, their friendships, with Joe and Eileen’s filial bond overriding them all.
Joe is a charismatic young man who easily attracts women, while Eileen is a spirited young woman with a love of horses and adventure. When Eileen goes off to London to experience life outside the confines of Ireland, she finds herself ill-equipped to deal with the emotional demands of the world at large. Her life takes a striking turn, which culminates in a stint at the Glasgow Magdalene Asylum, as back home Joe attempts to keep family and home in tact. This brother and sister’s journey carries us on a lyrical odyssey through the poignant terrain of two bright lights at odds with the exigencies of their time.