Stories of growing up in an Irish village told with a "blend of history, tradition and humour". Siobhán Lincoln records the social history of Ardmore village in County Waterford, tales of school days, dances, fishing, work, language and tradition. This book will be of interest to anyone who wants a picture of life in rural Ireland from the late 19th century to the dawning of the Millennium. From the forword by Fergal Keane: "The past slips away from us quietly. We are too consumed with the drama of the present to notice the departure of old ways and traditions. In an age of economic growth without parallel in the history of the state, we are all urged to speed into a bright new future. The places we came from, the landscape of our past recedes and is in danger of being lost. And so when a remarkable book appears like that now offered by Siobhán Lincoln it is important that we pay it proper attention. It is said that every village in Ireland has a historian: I can't vouch for that but know that Ardmore is blessed to have a woman like Siobhán who is so passionate in the cause of saving memory for the coming generations."