In the fourth episode of our series of free Irish podcasts The Writer’s Passage; your guide is author Alice Taylor. Alice brings us to the school so fondly depicted in her best selling book “To School Through The Fields” and to her family home which is located just fields away.
“To School Through The Fields” was first published in 1988 and became one of Irelands biggest selling memoirs of all time. A nostalgic look back at the era of Alice’s childhood, a farmer’s daughter who grew up in rural County Cork in the 1940s and reflects on stories about her parents, her family, her teachers and some of the other characters who lived in her village.
To listen to this episode press play below.
To visit Alice Taylor’s page on podcasts.ie click here
The Writer’s Passage Photographs.
The school has not stood the test of time, though Alice managed to capture it’s haydays in this painting
Alice returns to her family home and shows us the view across the fields where she went to school
The Writer’s Passage is produced by Jho Harris and Sinéad McClure with funding assistance from the Literature Project Award from the Arts Council of Ireland.
#1 by HELEN CLERY on September 17, 2011 - 10:37 am
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Hello Alice, Found three of your books: Through the Fields, The Village and Country Days, in an Op. shop. Bought them and what a treat! After reading the Village I went on to Google Earth and followed the journey around Innishannon: up the hill to the church, down to the tower, up the High St, and back to your shop and house. It was a magic journey, reminding me of the visit I had with our parish priest from Fremantle, west Australia, in 1980 when he went home to Ballineen for three months and I happened to be in Ireland at the same time. We drove all around Cork and neighbouring counties and had a grand time. I am a 1940s girl also and lived through much the same childhood and schooling, but in Australia. I have recently returned from Limerick where I found the long lost cousins, and that was a great adventure for an old girl too. It is just great to hear you speaking in person and talking of your school days. Thanks so much for sharing your memories, I will be seeking out some more of your books. God bless all at your place, Helen.