Lily at Lissadell is a story about a girl who goes to work in Lissadell House, Co. Sligo. She worked as a maid to help her poor family. She liked school especially writing stories and essays. She did not want to go to work at such a young age, but she had to in order to help her family earn money to buy food and clothes. At first, she found it difficult and she missed her family, but she soon got used to her new life.
She shares a room with Nellie, whom Lily doesn’t really like at first, but over time they become friends. I think it is a lovely book that is happy and sad in equal measure. The author also tells the readers what it was like to be a servant in 1913. I would recommend this book to everyone.
The book also talks about Countess Markievicz as her family, the Gore-Booths owned Lissadell House. Countess Markievicz lived in Dublin at this time. She was an amazing woman as she was the first woman to be elected to the Westminister Parliament, and was elected Minister for Labour in the First Dáil, becoming the first female cabinet minister in Europe.
by: Aoibhe, 5th class, Scoil Cholmcille, Breaffy, Ballina, Co. Mayo
“Lily at Lissadell” by Judi Curtin, published by O’Brien Press, is now on sale for €12.99
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher, O’Brien Press, free of charge to Seomra Ranga for the purposes of this review
