The Walking People by Mary Beth Keane
There must be something in the blood of the Irish, a literary DNA undiluted even into the second generation born in America. You will find reviews of Irish-American writer Mary Beth Keane’s novels, Fever and Ask Again, Yes on our website. I have just read the first of her three novels, The Walking People, and it is as excellent as the others.
The Walking People begins with a brief chapter introducing us to Michael Ward, who is driving into New York City for his last day of work before retirement. Michael has worked, for 37 years, underground as a “sand hog”, one of a team of men blasting and then removing the rubble as tunnels are built underground to bring drinking water to the rapidly growing city. There is mention of Michael’s wife Greta, and his friend, Ned.
Then we really begin the story, in 1956 in Ballyroan, Ireland where Greta grew up on a farm, with three brothers and a sister, Johanna. Country people. Her father was a well-known poacher of salmon from the river – supplementing the family larder and selling some to local hotels and other customers. We also meet Michael for the first time, the son of a Traveller, in Irish “an lucht siúil ”, the walking people. Michael’s family are nomadic, camping in various parts of the country, returning year after year.
After Greta’s father dies it becomes hard for the family to survive on the farm. Two older brothers emigrate to Australia. By 1963 life is becoming increasingly difficult in Ireland. Michael is also struggling with his life. He feels the need to leave his people and settle someplace – he yearns for a place of permanence, a place to put down roots. Remembering the kindness of Greta’s mother, Lily, from his childhood, he returns to Ballyroan. Offering to help on the farm, he is taken in.
It is not long, however, before it becomes clear that the farm cannot support them all, and Greta, Johanna and Michael together, all board a ship to New York City, to begin a life in America.
We then follow the story of this family for almost a half-century. Parents die, and children are born. Secrets are kept and revealed. Always there is “home” as Ireland is called – and America where they live, and cannot imagine leaving. Theirs is a remarkable story of the meaning of family, the enduring love in the best kind of marriage, and the fierce love and protection of motherhood.
Mary Beth Keane is an exceptionally talented writer. In 2011 she was named one of the National Book Foundation's "5 under 35," and in 2015 she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for Fiction.
The Walking People was published in 2009, Fever in 2013, and Ask Again, Yes in 2019 to rave reviews. Read one and you’ll read them all!