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Date Posted: 06:05:54 06/29/09 Mon
Author: Carla
Subject: Chapter Three: "A Hundred Thousand Welcomes Home”

A Belfast pub


A gratuitous picture of Colin Farrell, the closest living man Cindy's every seen to Casey Riordan. He's not tall enough to be the real Casey, but he'll do ;)


In which we meet Casey, disguised as a priest, singing for his pint in a pub. Casey seems to be caught up in dangerous dealings and his father was, as well. We also learn he has a temper, is loyal, has a sense of humour, can charm the birds from the trees, sings beautifully and family is very important to him. We also learn his family has a long history of being involved in and dying for the Republican cause.

One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. Having just met Casey, and not yet having read Cindy’s recounting of the injustices (to put it mildly) visited upon the Irish Catholics by the English, how did you view Casey?

Chapter Four: “Divine Circles”

Queen's University, Belfast, where Pat & Pamela are attending classes


The final introduction of a major character comes with our meeting of Pat, Casey’s younger brother, and we also see Pamela again, in an Irish history class. Pat is diligently drawing naked pictures of Pamela while eviscerating the prof's lecture. In the course of the chapter, we learn that Pat is intelligent, articulate, a rebel in a family of rebels and an excellent artist.

Cindy delivers a succinct history of Ireland, putting a human face to the facts by showing us how the major rebel movements affected the Riordan family, the suffering and degradation they endured, and the blind prejudice and hatred of English rule in Ireland. She also gives us important background: the settlement of English and Scottish Protestants in the six counties on formerly Catholic land, the removal of all rights – including the right to learn to read and write, to practice your religion or to own land and earn a decent living.

We also, through flashbacks, get to meet Brian, Casey and Pat’s father. A man whom I am looking forward to getting to know better (big hint to the author ☺). We learn what a strong, loving and straightforward man he was and that his boys loved him dearly and miss him terribly.

Why do you think the Riordans stayed through so many centuries of persecution and murder?

Did you feel any differently about organizations such as the IRA having learned just how bad it was in Ireland for the Catholic majority?

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