What would you sacrifice for your children? Ballymor, Ireland, 1847 As famine grips the country Kitty McCarthy is left widowed and alone. Fighting to keep her two remaining children alive against all odds, Kitty must decide how far she will go to save her family. Present day Arriving in Ballymor, Maria is researching her ancestor, Victorian artist Michael McCarthy – and his beloved mother, the … McCarthy – and his beloved mother, the mysterious Kitty who disappeared without a trace.
Running from her future, it’s not only answers about the past that Maria hopes to find in Ireland. As her search brings her closer to the truth about Kitty’s fate, Maria must make the biggest decision of her life.
What readers are saying about The Girl from Ballymor:
‘Spellbinding!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘I loved this book.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Wonderful… Was hard to put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Swept me away… I was totally engaged… Highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Fantastic!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘An excellent read… Compelling.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
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Really enjoyed this book! Love the history and references to Ireland!
It was sad to read about the famine in Ireland and I always wonder what I would do in certain situations. I don’t think I would have been as proud as Kitty but who knows. I enjoyed Maria and her search for her roots. Good story
Great history of 1850ish Ireland
Read it in one sitting. That means I stayed up all night. Just couldn’t stop.
Genealogy mystery, love story, historical and family reconciliation
A wonderful read with that has past and present storylines , filled with tragic events, historical info and relationship struggles. I enjoyed the book greatly and highly recommend.
Terrific
Great characters across huge expanses of time bring the tragic impact of Ireland’s potato famine and it’s impact on everyday life into sharp clarity. Touching & tragic, warm and life-changing for it’s characters, this is a wonderful read.
It was tragic because of the horror of the famine. The characters were people you really cared about and wanted to find out what happened to them, even though you are certain it won’t be a happy ending.
Highly recommend this story. Likes the characters and the enterface between two periods of time.
I will read this again. Sad, but it gave me idea of what it may have been like. It is a book I will think about for a long time.
I really enjoyed this book which was really two separate stories that sort of came together at the end. It was well written and I could hardly put it down.
The Girl From Ballymor – my first Kathleen McGurl book. Loved it! Can’t wait to read another.
I had a hard time staying with this book. The better part of the book was when the author jumps back in time to tell the tale of the Kitty to light. The current day story of Marie left much to be desired.
Brilliant story of ancestors and love.
Historical fiction, well told.
Any setting in Ireland is a draw for me to read a book, and the story was compelling.
I loved reading this book. Hard knowing my Irish family had to live through such
Inhuman conditions by the English land owners.
Kathleen
This was a new author for me — one of the benefits of
Bookbub. There are two time periods, as a young woman searches for information on one of her ancestors, who was a well known Irish painter in the 1850’s.
The Irish Famine. The Irish Immigrants. This is the story of a small village, a blighted crop, a collapsed mine, and the search for the mother left behind. Told in the times of the famine and a current day researcher. In this time of a pandemic, this made me rethink any complaints I might consider.