An interesting story about a young couple who, in the 1980s, left their jobs and lives in New York City to go live on a farm in western Ireland.

Reading this book made me thankful for the comforts of modern life and technology!

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A New York City couple, who gave up their urban existence to settle in the tiny village of Kilmihil on Ireland's west coast, here recount their adaption. "Entertaining and instructive," said PW , the work "captures a way of life foreign to most readers." Illustrated.

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What a joy it was to read this again!

Last year I was privileged to devour an advance review copy of "In Kiltumper; A Year in an Irish Garden" by Niall Williams and Christine Breen. I remembered reading their original account of their move to Ireland way back in 1987. I quickly reordered my lost copy of "O Come Ye Back to Ireland: Our First Year in County Clare" (from PaperBackSwap!)and reclaimed lost friends and memories.

A young couple gives up the rat race in New York and fall in love with the romantic notion of moving to the remote town of Kiltumper in western Ireland, in a farming cottage Christine's family once lived in. Niall will concentrate on writing, Christine will sell paintings, and they will both work on gardening and farming. The couple find that beautiful Ireland is a harsh place to live in, however. The whole culture shock is made vividly clear in this touching and endearing book. The land so slow to change provides a reflection of what life was like for our ancestors.

This book is returning to the bookshelf with the promise that it will not be another 35 years before I return.

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A most enjoyable read - One Irish national and one American make good on their dream of returning to Ireland and to a life that is simpler, centered and connected to the land. They admit to setbacks and share their successes all the while trying to be a part of a community being accepted for themselves. A recommended read for anyone enjoying Irish landscape reading, back-to-the-land narratives or just a wee bit of travel with writers who become friends before the book ends.

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