From the Top of the Bog to Boston: A 20th Century Irish Journey

From the Top of the Bog to Boston: A 20th Century Irish Journey

From the Top of the Bog to Boston: A 20th Century Irish Journey is a tender yet wrenching tale of two Irish immigrants, Larry and Betty, who left their rural villages in the 1950s. Larry, exiled by his family under devastating circumstances, and Betty, fleeing a secret that threatens her future, both seek refuge in Boston’s vibrant Irish-American communities. Amid a rapidly changing American landscape, they struggle to forge a future far removed from the homes they left behind. Spanning rural Ireland and Boston across the 20th century, this historical memoir offers a multi-generational portrait of Irish identity—its burdens, blessings, and contradictions. Kathleen T. Cummings weaves personal narrative, cultural commentary, and historical storytelling to illuminate the challenges of transitioning from Ireland’s close-knit villages to a diverse, complex urban world.