Maisie Sherlock’s life encompasses the history of modern Ireland. She was born in 1921 when the country was still part of the British Empire, grew up on a small farm where the seasons dominated the economic and social life of society, where the Catholic Church was intertwined with the fabric of rural communities and where emigration often presented exciting opportunities for young people not available at home. For Maisie it led to her taking the boat to England to train as a nurse in London during World War Two where she experienced bombings, camaraderie and the cinema.
Her story is remarkable for its honesty and reflection on an Ireland and a world that was poorer and scarred by war but was still characterised by the warmth of family, neighbourliness, shared spirituality and where having an ice-cream or a sweet would bring a sense of wonder to a child.
