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- Strictly for Adults Novels >
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Tales from Portlaw
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- No Need to Look for Love
- 'The Love Quartet' >
-
The Priest's Calling Card
>
- Chapter One - The Irish Custom
- Chapter Two - Patrick Duffy's Family Background
- Chapter Three - Patrick Duffy Junior's Vocation to Priesthood
- Chapter Four - The first years of the priesthood
- Chapter Five - Father Patrick Duffy in Seattle
- Chapter Six - Father Patrick Duffy, Portlaw Priest
- Chapter Seven - Patrick Duffy Priest Power
- Chapter Eight - Patrick Duffy Groundless Gossip
- Chapter Nine - Monsignor Duffy of Portlaw
- Chapter Ten - The Portlaw Inheritance of Patrick Duffy
- Bigger and Better >
- The Oldest Woman in the World >
-
Sean and Sarah
>
- Chapter 1 - 'Return of the Prodigal Son'
- Chapter 2 - 'The early years of sweet innocence in Portlaw'
- Chapter 3 - 'The Separation'
- Chapter 4 - 'Separation and Betrayal'
- Chapter 5 - 'Portlaw to Manchester'
- Chapter 6 - 'Salford Choices'
- Chapter 7 - 'Life inside Prison'
- Chapter 8 - 'The Aylesbury Pilgrimage'
- Chapter 9 - Sean's interest in stone masonary'
- Chapter 10 - 'Sean's and Tony's Partnership'
- Chapter 11 - 'Return of the Prodigal Son'
- The Alternative Christmas Party >
-
The Life of Liam Lafferty
>
- Chapter One: ' Liam Lafferty is born'
- Chapter Two : 'The Baptism of Liam Lafferty'
- Chapter Three: 'The early years of Liam Lafferty'
- Chapter Four : Early Manhood
- Chapter Five : Ned's Secret Past
- Chapter Six : Courtship and Marriage
- Chapter Seven : Liam and Trish marry
- Chapter Eight : Farley meets Ned
- Chapter Nine : 'Ned comes clean to Farley'
- Chapter Ten : Tragedy hits the family
- Chapter Eleven : The future is brighter
-
The life and times of Joe Walsh
>
- Chapter One : 'The marriage of Margaret Mawd and Thomas Walsh’
- Chapter Two 'The birth of Joe Walsh'
- Chapter Three 'Marriage breakup and betrayal'
- Chapter Four: ' The Walsh family breakup'
- Chapter Five : ' Liverpool Lodgings'
- Chapter Six: ' Settled times are established and tested'
- Chapter Seven : 'Haworth is heaven is a place on earth'
- Chapter Eight: 'Coming out'
- Chapter Nine: Portlaw revenge
- Chapter Ten: ' The murder trial of Paddy Groggy'
- Chapter Eleven: 'New beginnings'
-
The Woman Who Hated Christmas
>
- Chapter One: 'The Christmas Enigma'
- Chapter Two: ' The Breakup of Beth's Family''
- Chapter Three: From Teenager to Adulthood.'
- Chapter Four: 'The Mills of West Yorkshire.'
- Chapter Five: 'Harrison Garner Showdown.'
- Chapter Six : 'The Christmas Dance'
- Chapter Seven : 'The ballot for Shop Steward.'
- Chapter Eight: ' Leaving the Mill'
- Chapter Ten: ' Beth buries her Ghosts'
- Chapter Eleven: Beth and Dermot start off married life in Galway.
- Chapter Twelve: The Twin Tragedy of Christmas, 1992.'
- Chapter Thirteen: 'The Christmas star returns'
- Chapter Fourteen: ' Beth's future in Portlaw'
-
The Last Dance
>
- Chapter One - ‘Nancy Swales becomes the Widow Swales’
- Chapter Two ‘The secret night life of Widow Swales’
- Chapter Three ‘Meeting Richard again’
- Chapter Four ‘Clancy’s Ballroom: March 1961’
- Chapter Five ‘The All Ireland Dancing Rounds’
- Chapter Six ‘James Mountford’
- Chapter Seven ‘The All Ireland Ballroom Latin American Dance Final.’
- Chapter Eight ‘The Final Arrives’
- Chapter Nine: 'Beth in Manchester.'
- 'Two Sisters' >
- Fourteen Days >
-
‘The Postman Always Knocks Twice’
>
- Author's Foreword
- Contents
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen
- Chapter Seventeen
- Chapter Eighteen
- Chapter Nineteen
- Chapter Twenty
- Chapter Twenty-One
- Chapter Twenty-Two
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Celebrity Contacts
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Thoughts and Musings
- Bereavement >
- Nature >
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Bill's Personal Development
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- What I'd like to be remembered for
- Second Chances
- Roots
- Holidays of Old
- Memorable Moments of Mine
- Cleckheaton Consecration
- Canadian Loves
- Mum's Wisdom
- 'Early life at my Grandparents'
- Family Holidays
- 'Mother /Child Bond'
- Childhood Pain
- The Death of Lady
- 'Soldiering On'
- 'Romantic Holidays'
- 'On the roof'
- Always wear clean shoes
- 'Family Tree'
- The importance of poise
- 'Growing up with grandparents'
- Love & Romance >
- Christian Thoughts, Acts and Words >
- My Wedding
- My Funeral
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Chapter One
‘The marriage between Margaret Mawd and
Thomas Walsh’

It was the spring of 1952 when Mr and Mrs Walsh first made their presence known to the rural population of Portlaw as the newly-arrived Head master and his wife at the village school. Margaret and Thomas Walsh were the only married couple in the village who each possessed a university degree; his in Irish History and hers in Classical Literature.

The couple originated from Connemara where Mr Walsh had been a teacher for a few years. Armed with a good degree from Dublin University, accompanied by having a number of valuable family contacts in the field of academia, it wasn’t long before the young, ambitious school teacher had applied for the post of Headmaster in the village of Portlaw, County Waterford. Despite his brief period in the teaching profession and being eager to quickly advance his career, Thomas Walsh couldn't see any point in slowing the process down by applying for a post of Deputy Head. To him, such a move was wholly unnecessary and a waste of valuable time. He held the view that a position as Deputy Head was one level below his natural competence level. Consequently, he wasn't surprised in the least when his application for the Headmaster post was successful. Thomas had secured his new position; leapfrogging the in-house applicant who'd already been the Deputy Head in the school for the previous five years.

The Deputy Head in the Portlaw school was a 47-year-old man who’d been born in County Sligo. He’d been the red-hot favourite to become Headmaster, but to everyone’s surprise, it was the Connemara outsider who got the coveted post.
The Deputy Head was Paddy Groggy. To have looked at him, one would not instantly have seen head-master material in him. He was bitterly disappointed to have had ‘a Connemara upstart’ with very little experience of the real world of teaching preferred over himself for the position as Head of school. Had Paddy Groggy known that he wouldn’t succeed in his application, he would never have subjected himself to the humiliation of defeat to an outsider with far less teaching experience than himself. Other Deputy Heads in his position wouldn’t have given a second thought to their next move. Most would have ‘upped sticks’ and sought the security of a deputy headship elsewhere or even applied for a headship hundreds of miles away.

But not Paddy Groggy! For Paddy Groggy, upping sticks and moving elsewhere wasn’t a viable option at this stage in his life. For one thing, his widowed mother was getting on in years and her health was far from good. Paddy was her only offspring and although she'd never been emotionally close to him (or any other person for that matter), she still wanted him around as her whipping boy; someone she could moan and groan to from time to time whenever she saw him.
The second person in Paddy's life who greatly influenced his every thought and action was his wife, Rosie. Paddy had fallen in love with a woman fifteen years younger than him seven years earlier when he’d been forty and she, a mere twenty five. His wife was a beauty and while most Portlaw folk couldn’t fathom how he’d managed to catch such a stunner, Paddy had simply put his good fortune down to love and fate. Besides, getting married for Paddy was a way of legitimately leaving his mother's house, just as entering the teaching profession instead of running the family farm after the death of his father had provided an escape route for him.
The second person in Paddy's life who greatly influenced his every thought and action was his wife, Rosie. Paddy had fallen in love with a woman fifteen years younger than him seven years earlier when he’d been forty and she, a mere twenty five. His wife was a beauty and while most Portlaw folk couldn’t fathom how he’d managed to catch such a stunner, Paddy had simply put his good fortune down to love and fate. Besides, getting married for Paddy was a way of legitimately leaving his mother's house, just as entering the teaching profession instead of running the family farm after the death of his father had provided an escape route for him.

Little did Paddy know at the time of his marriage that his wife was nothing short of being a ‘gold digger’ who was out to milk him for all she could before she threw him overboard and went in search of her next conquest.
However, after his wife discovered that Paddy was the only son of a widow who owned ‘Green Meadows Farm,’ she decided to hold her options open for a while longer before declaring her hand. Rosie estimated that ‘Green Meadows Farm’ and all its lands, was worth over £200,000. She was also aware that the Widow Groggy was not a woman in the best of health and could pop her clogs anytime in the near future. Therefore, she decided not to abandon her cuckold husband until a more advantageous time when circumstances would be more favourable to her.
However, after his wife discovered that Paddy was the only son of a widow who owned ‘Green Meadows Farm,’ she decided to hold her options open for a while longer before declaring her hand. Rosie estimated that ‘Green Meadows Farm’ and all its lands, was worth over £200,000. She was also aware that the Widow Groggy was not a woman in the best of health and could pop her clogs anytime in the near future. Therefore, she decided not to abandon her cuckold husband until a more advantageous time when circumstances would be more favourable to her.

After discovering the extent of her husband’s future inheritance, Rosie decided to bide her time keeping the family nest warm instead of deserting the goose that sat upon the golden egg. She hadn’t the slightest intention of throwing in a winning hand, even though she no longer loved her husband. The way that she saw it was quite simple. Just because she no longer held any meaningful affection for her husband, such a minor detail wouldn’t be allowed to prevent her obtaining the affections of someone else’s!
Rosie was an earthy woman who constantly craved male adoration and attention. Soon in her marriage, she learned how enjoyable 'unfaithfulness' could be for her.
When Paddy Groggy told Rosie that the Headmaster’s job had gone to another applicant from Connemara, instead of the disappointment he’d expected being expressed by his wife, Rosie simply replied, “Never mind, my dear. That simply means more time for you and me to enjoy our walks around Portlaw. Do you know dear, I love this town. I could never think about moving elsewhere. I want to be buried here when my time comes, somewhere in the grounds of your dear mother's place, 'Green Meadows Farm'.”
Rosie was an earthy woman who constantly craved male adoration and attention. Soon in her marriage, she learned how enjoyable 'unfaithfulness' could be for her.
When Paddy Groggy told Rosie that the Headmaster’s job had gone to another applicant from Connemara, instead of the disappointment he’d expected being expressed by his wife, Rosie simply replied, “Never mind, my dear. That simply means more time for you and me to enjoy our walks around Portlaw. Do you know dear, I love this town. I could never think about moving elsewhere. I want to be buried here when my time comes, somewhere in the grounds of your dear mother's place, 'Green Meadows Farm'.”

While Rosie had found it easy to deceive her husband as to the way she actually felt about their marriage, she couldn't deceive herself of her needs or deprive herself from satisfying them. She gradually started having a string of affairs of the type where no emotional attachment was either sought or required in return; simply straight-forward uncomplicated sex. She desired nothing more than an extra-marital relationship that was founded on mutual lust between the parties and therefore she selected willing partners who were themselves married and sought no emotional commitment from an affair! Her favourite spot where she would meet her lover would be in a disused barn, which was isolated from the main part of 'Green Meadows Farm', her mother-in-law's property.
To keep such extra-marital activities away from the ears of her gullible husband and the gossip mongers of Portlaw, Rosie would frequently change her hair colour to avoid detection of her comings and goings in and around the area. One month she'd be a brunette and the next a blonde. But whichever colour Rosie chose, she always made herself fetching to the eyes of any hot-blooded male who clapped eyes on her.
To keep such extra-marital activities away from the ears of her gullible husband and the gossip mongers of Portlaw, Rosie would frequently change her hair colour to avoid detection of her comings and goings in and around the area. One month she'd be a brunette and the next a blonde. But whichever colour Rosie chose, she always made herself fetching to the eyes of any hot-blooded male who clapped eyes on her.
XXXXX

The marriage between Thomas Walsh and Margaret Mawd seemed to be one made in heaven from the outset. Margaret and Thomas had both been born in Connemara on the west coast of Ireland and seemed in many ways to be the most natural of marriage partners.
Each had been brought up as only children in privileged circumstances, and during their childhood years, neither had ever been allowed to want for anything that would assist in their educational advancement in life.
They met shortly after Margaret had just completed her degree and had returned to her parents' home. Thomas had been in a teaching post in Connemara for two years when he first set eyes on Margaret. The couple seemed mutually compatible in all ways, physical and psychologically. Both of Thomas' parents were deceased; his mother having died from a brain tumour when he was four and his father in a car accident when he was nineteen years old and had just started his degree course at university.
Being without parents essentially led Margaret's parents to more readily accept Thomas as a regular visitor to their home and eventually as a suitable marriage partner for their only daughter. Indeed, Margaret's father and Thomas seemed alike in so many ways and were soon the best of buddies. Margaret's father had always been a powerful character who'd exercised a strong influence over his daughter and Thomas' character of decisiveness was very similar and appeared initially appealing to Margaret. In fact, their early period of courtship suggested a happy continuance.
However, in real life things are rarely as they seem to be. Indeed, I could go so far as to say that often things are invariably the opposite of what they appear to be! Such was to prove the case as far as the character and inconsiderate mannerisms of Thomas Walsh was concerned.
It wasn't too long after he'd married Margaret, she realised that Thomas Walsh wasn't all he'd initially seemed to be. She quickly learned that he'd conned her as to the nature of his true character and had also hoodwinked Margaret's parents who'd thought the world of him.
Each had been brought up as only children in privileged circumstances, and during their childhood years, neither had ever been allowed to want for anything that would assist in their educational advancement in life.
They met shortly after Margaret had just completed her degree and had returned to her parents' home. Thomas had been in a teaching post in Connemara for two years when he first set eyes on Margaret. The couple seemed mutually compatible in all ways, physical and psychologically. Both of Thomas' parents were deceased; his mother having died from a brain tumour when he was four and his father in a car accident when he was nineteen years old and had just started his degree course at university.
Being without parents essentially led Margaret's parents to more readily accept Thomas as a regular visitor to their home and eventually as a suitable marriage partner for their only daughter. Indeed, Margaret's father and Thomas seemed alike in so many ways and were soon the best of buddies. Margaret's father had always been a powerful character who'd exercised a strong influence over his daughter and Thomas' character of decisiveness was very similar and appeared initially appealing to Margaret. In fact, their early period of courtship suggested a happy continuance.
However, in real life things are rarely as they seem to be. Indeed, I could go so far as to say that often things are invariably the opposite of what they appear to be! Such was to prove the case as far as the character and inconsiderate mannerisms of Thomas Walsh was concerned.
It wasn't too long after he'd married Margaret, she realised that Thomas Walsh wasn't all he'd initially seemed to be. She quickly learned that he'd conned her as to the nature of his true character and had also hoodwinked Margaret's parents who'd thought the world of him.

Margaret and Thomas Walsh were among the most respected and looked-up-to members in their community when they commenced their married life in Connemara.
However, early on after their marriage, Thomas Walsh gradually changed in a way that Margaret didn't welcome at all. He had decided very early on in his marriage that as a school teacher within a small community, he and his wife had certain standards to keep up to and that this would only remain possible to uphold so long as there was always a perception of 'distance' maintained between them and the overwhelming majority of the other townsfolk; those of less social standing and of more common status than a professional and educated person. He was in effect, an overbearing snob!
Thomas ensured that the couple kept to themselves whenever they could and did everything possible to see that their overall image in the eye of the observer remained untarnished and socially intact. Other folk were always discouraged in the practice of any over-familiarity towards them. Nobody was ever allowed to refer to them by their Christian names. Acceptable forms of address included the plain Mr and Mrs Walsh or alternately, Mr Walsh the school teacher and Mrs Walsh, the school teacher’s wife.
This strict code about the propriety of address was also upheld within their marriage. In accordance with their own upbringing, man and wife never sought to use that working-class habit of shortening their Christian names whenever addressing each other. This meant that Margaret Walsh would never be referred to as Mags or Maggie by her husband and similarly, Thomas Walsh would never tolerate being known as Tom or Tommy by his wife or anyone else.
Naturally, as the wife of the village school teacher, Margaret Walsh was not expected to work outside the family home. Despite her first-class degree in Classical Literature from Dublin City University, her role within the marriage was clearly to support her husband’s advancement in his chosen profession. It was a tacit understanding that until she attained the status of motherhood, looking after both husband and home was all that would be required or expected of her, along with sitting on a few important committees that couldn't be undertaken by those of lesser breeding and inferior educational status.
To the rest of the village folk who daily saw Mr and Mrs Walsh, none would have ever expected their marital life to have been anything other than one of blissful happiness. They seemed to have everything going for them; youth, good health, a distinguished educational background, proper middle-class breeding and professional credentials within a community which accorded them a social status that both had always been accustomed to. In short, they had now firmly re-established themselves in their true station in life.
However, early on after their marriage, Thomas Walsh gradually changed in a way that Margaret didn't welcome at all. He had decided very early on in his marriage that as a school teacher within a small community, he and his wife had certain standards to keep up to and that this would only remain possible to uphold so long as there was always a perception of 'distance' maintained between them and the overwhelming majority of the other townsfolk; those of less social standing and of more common status than a professional and educated person. He was in effect, an overbearing snob!
Thomas ensured that the couple kept to themselves whenever they could and did everything possible to see that their overall image in the eye of the observer remained untarnished and socially intact. Other folk were always discouraged in the practice of any over-familiarity towards them. Nobody was ever allowed to refer to them by their Christian names. Acceptable forms of address included the plain Mr and Mrs Walsh or alternately, Mr Walsh the school teacher and Mrs Walsh, the school teacher’s wife.
This strict code about the propriety of address was also upheld within their marriage. In accordance with their own upbringing, man and wife never sought to use that working-class habit of shortening their Christian names whenever addressing each other. This meant that Margaret Walsh would never be referred to as Mags or Maggie by her husband and similarly, Thomas Walsh would never tolerate being known as Tom or Tommy by his wife or anyone else.
Naturally, as the wife of the village school teacher, Margaret Walsh was not expected to work outside the family home. Despite her first-class degree in Classical Literature from Dublin City University, her role within the marriage was clearly to support her husband’s advancement in his chosen profession. It was a tacit understanding that until she attained the status of motherhood, looking after both husband and home was all that would be required or expected of her, along with sitting on a few important committees that couldn't be undertaken by those of lesser breeding and inferior educational status.
To the rest of the village folk who daily saw Mr and Mrs Walsh, none would have ever expected their marital life to have been anything other than one of blissful happiness. They seemed to have everything going for them; youth, good health, a distinguished educational background, proper middle-class breeding and professional credentials within a community which accorded them a social status that both had always been accustomed to. In short, they had now firmly re-established themselves in their true station in life.

It was during 1949 when the couple had married, following a suitable period of courtship. The Second World War had ended and life was gradually on the up once more; especially for those of the middle-classes who held down salaried posts and who could afford all of the mod-cons that made housework and home-keeping much easier.
Connemara folk were no different in their attitudes about gender roles immediately post-war than were any other men and women on the planet. Both sexes were perfectly aware of the proprieties, practices and place required of them within society as a whole. Whatever one's class was, there was a code, which every respectable married woman knew and exercised in accordance with her proscribed role. The curtain of sexual inequality would not be lowered until the heady days of the 1960s and until that time arrived, the female actors on the stage were still expected to keep to their scripted lines and stay firmly within their designated role.
Women, in general, were still very much regarded by the bulk of male-controlled society as being infinitely inferior to that of their male counterparts. They were essentially viewed as being a species, which was designated to act primarily as home makers and to look feminine in their husband’s presence. While she may have been called the Mistress of her house, she would always have to give way to its Master, her husband!
Such was the expected cost and price that Margaret Walsh (Nee Mawd) would pay for having adopted her husband’s name upon marriage to him! Top of the list of husbandly expectations was 'place'. A woman was still expected by most men to know her place, especially in the home and the presence of her husband and other company from outside it. The vast majority of women conformed to male expectations and wherever they saw the possible signs of rebellion by one of their own kind, neighbours would close ranks, and along with the remainder of the community, they’d put social pressure on the female rebel not to rock the boat for the rest of them!
Connemara folk were no different in their attitudes about gender roles immediately post-war than were any other men and women on the planet. Both sexes were perfectly aware of the proprieties, practices and place required of them within society as a whole. Whatever one's class was, there was a code, which every respectable married woman knew and exercised in accordance with her proscribed role. The curtain of sexual inequality would not be lowered until the heady days of the 1960s and until that time arrived, the female actors on the stage were still expected to keep to their scripted lines and stay firmly within their designated role.
Women, in general, were still very much regarded by the bulk of male-controlled society as being infinitely inferior to that of their male counterparts. They were essentially viewed as being a species, which was designated to act primarily as home makers and to look feminine in their husband’s presence. While she may have been called the Mistress of her house, she would always have to give way to its Master, her husband!
Such was the expected cost and price that Margaret Walsh (Nee Mawd) would pay for having adopted her husband’s name upon marriage to him! Top of the list of husbandly expectations was 'place'. A woman was still expected by most men to know her place, especially in the home and the presence of her husband and other company from outside it. The vast majority of women conformed to male expectations and wherever they saw the possible signs of rebellion by one of their own kind, neighbours would close ranks, and along with the remainder of the community, they’d put social pressure on the female rebel not to rock the boat for the rest of them!
XXXXX

Prior to attending university, Margaret had always held out the dream of one day becoming a writer. It was a dream which both of her parents had always encouraged and fostered, particularly her mother.
After the young Margaret Mawd had taken her degree in Dublin University, she'd returned to her parents' home in Connermara unsure of what to do next. Her father persuaded her to have some time out before taking up a job, while she was still young enough to enjoy it. Margaret usually finished up following her father's advice. Three months later, Margaret met Thomas Walsh and after a whirlwind period of romance during which he swept the young woman off her feet, marriage plans between Margaret and Thomas were being discussed.
After the young Margaret Mawd had taken her degree in Dublin University, she'd returned to her parents' home in Connermara unsure of what to do next. Her father persuaded her to have some time out before taking up a job, while she was still young enough to enjoy it. Margaret usually finished up following her father's advice. Three months later, Margaret met Thomas Walsh and after a whirlwind period of romance during which he swept the young woman off her feet, marriage plans between Margaret and Thomas were being discussed.

Margaret’s parents saw their daughter happy with her new boyfriend and after discovering that he was a Catholic and a regular attender at Sunday Mass, they seemed taken with their daughter's choice all the more. Being strict observers of the Roman Catholic religion themselves, Margaret's parents would have strongly objected to their only daughter marrying outside the faith.
When the couple announced their stated intention to marry in the parish church of Margaret's parents and the Mawd family home, Margaret's parents were over the moon. To tell the truth, so was Margaret. She knew that it had long been her mother's dream that she be one day married in their own parish church where Margaret had been baptised, made her First Holy Communion and had been confirmed. However, Margaret had also grown up knowing that however much her mum and dad loved her that they would never have attended her marriage had it been outside the church of their faith or with a non-Catholic.
When the couple announced their stated intention to marry in the parish church of Margaret's parents and the Mawd family home, Margaret's parents were over the moon. To tell the truth, so was Margaret. She knew that it had long been her mother's dream that she be one day married in their own parish church where Margaret had been baptised, made her First Holy Communion and had been confirmed. However, Margaret had also grown up knowing that however much her mum and dad loved her that they would never have attended her marriage had it been outside the church of their faith or with a non-Catholic.

Margaret Maud and Thomas Walsh were married in Rathbarron Catholic Church in Achonry, Connermara. As a wedding present, Margaret's parents gave the newly weds a sizable deposit to act as a large deposit on their first marital home and the couple secured a cottage in the vicinity of Thomas’ school of work. The cottage was situated at the side of a beautiful expanse of water and the young married couple even had their own rowing boat moored close by to their home.

Whilst being aware of certain conventions that would need to be upheld, Margaret’s parents genuinely believed that, as the wife of a school teacher who undoubtedly would one day become a headmaster, their daughter would be able to pursue her writing ambitions in her own free time. Both Margaret and her parents believed that she would have adequate time and opportunity from her home base to use the spare hours of her days developing her writing skills and perhaps penning her first of many acclaimed novels until the children came along.
This burning ambition of Margaret's however, was to be the cause of their very first marital row. This was no ordinary spat between husband and wife. It was no mere put down or mild disagreement. It was to be an occasion that Margaret would never forget; an occasion merely three months into their marriage when she realised that her future prospects of any happiness would never be found within her marriage to Thomas Walsh!
This burning ambition of Margaret's however, was to be the cause of their very first marital row. This was no ordinary spat between husband and wife. It was no mere put down or mild disagreement. It was to be an occasion that Margaret would never forget; an occasion merely three months into their marriage when she realised that her future prospects of any happiness would never be found within her marriage to Thomas Walsh!

During the days of her courtship with Thomas, Margaret had often thought about her writing career and how it might be allowed to develop and flourish over the years ahead. However, despite this prospect having been loosely referred to on a few occasions by the couple, no deep conversation about Margaret’s writing or formal agreement had ever resulted in the emergence of a clear and stated understanding between them, either prior to or post marriage. Unconsciously, Margaret had never even considered the likelihood that her husband would object so strongly.
It was therefore to Margaret’s great shock and bitter disappointment to discover that she might as well abandon any hopes she'd ever entertained about becoming an author, as it didn't fit in with her husband's expressed approval. Shortly following their wedding and having got nicely settled in to their new marital home in Connemara, her husband not only strictly forbade it, but made it clear that he would never sanction it!
It was therefore to Margaret’s great shock and bitter disappointment to discover that she might as well abandon any hopes she'd ever entertained about becoming an author, as it didn't fit in with her husband's expressed approval. Shortly following their wedding and having got nicely settled in to their new marital home in Connemara, her husband not only strictly forbade it, but made it clear that he would never sanction it!

The occasion in question occurred one day when her husband unexpectedly returned from school during his lunch break to change his white shirt that he’d inadvertently dirtied earlier that morning. Thomas was not the type of man to lower his dress standard in the eyes of others by continuing to wear a shirt with a bit of dirt on its cuff for the remainder of the school day if he could change it, even though no other person in the school would have noticed the minuscule mark or even had they done so, given the matter a second thought
Unknown to Thomas, for the past few months Margaret had started to allocate around four hours of her day between 10am and 2pm writing while her husband was at school. This time table enabled her to get a start on that novel she was burning to get out of her, besides still leaving her with an adequate amount of time to prepare Thomas a cooked meal for his return home at the end of his working day and to keep on top of other household tasks.
Initially, Margaret had developed this plan to secretly write her novel over the coming year and then send it off to publishing houses for their consideration. If it wasn’t good enough first time round, she would revise it or even place it in a bottom drawer and set about writing another novel. However, until she finally won through and got a novel of her own accepted for publication, she planned to keep her writing a secret from her husband, parents and everyone else. This way, Margaret believed that ‘the surprise’ would be all the greater when eventually she sprang it on Thomas and her parents!
However, Margaret had greatly misjudged her husband's response when he eventually found out that she’d spent the bulk of her day writing stories in his absence instead of keeping the house better attended or engaging herself on a number of the community committees, which he felt was socially expected of her and advantageous to his image and career.
Unknown to Thomas, for the past few months Margaret had started to allocate around four hours of her day between 10am and 2pm writing while her husband was at school. This time table enabled her to get a start on that novel she was burning to get out of her, besides still leaving her with an adequate amount of time to prepare Thomas a cooked meal for his return home at the end of his working day and to keep on top of other household tasks.
Initially, Margaret had developed this plan to secretly write her novel over the coming year and then send it off to publishing houses for their consideration. If it wasn’t good enough first time round, she would revise it or even place it in a bottom drawer and set about writing another novel. However, until she finally won through and got a novel of her own accepted for publication, she planned to keep her writing a secret from her husband, parents and everyone else. This way, Margaret believed that ‘the surprise’ would be all the greater when eventually she sprang it on Thomas and her parents!
However, Margaret had greatly misjudged her husband's response when he eventually found out that she’d spent the bulk of her day writing stories in his absence instead of keeping the house better attended or engaging herself on a number of the community committees, which he felt was socially expected of her and advantageous to his image and career.

The day that Thomas Walsh returned home unexpectedly at mid-day instead of 5pm and found his wife sitting at the table writing stories he blew his top and revealed an ugly and brutal side to his character that Margaret had not previously seen.
Margaret looked quite surprised to see her husband enter the room. When he eventually discovered what his wife was doing, it was as though he’d completely lost the plot. Telling him that she wanted to become an author seemed to incite his mounting anger to fever pitch. He adopted a hostile posture and started to rant and rave at her.
"An author," he exclaimed angrily as he banged the table she had her papers stacked on, scattering sheets of carefully written-out words that she had spent hours composing to her satisfaction. "A bloody author!"
"And what’s so wrong with that?" Margaret replied in a much louder voice than she usually spoke in, particularly in reply to him. As she spoke, she feared his mounting anger having voiced her reply so harshly. She could sense in which direction this disagreement was heading and she found herself crossing her fingers behind her back as she said a silent prayer.
Margaret looked quite surprised to see her husband enter the room. When he eventually discovered what his wife was doing, it was as though he’d completely lost the plot. Telling him that she wanted to become an author seemed to incite his mounting anger to fever pitch. He adopted a hostile posture and started to rant and rave at her.
"An author," he exclaimed angrily as he banged the table she had her papers stacked on, scattering sheets of carefully written-out words that she had spent hours composing to her satisfaction. "A bloody author!"
"And what’s so wrong with that?" Margaret replied in a much louder voice than she usually spoke in, particularly in reply to him. As she spoke, she feared his mounting anger having voiced her reply so harshly. She could sense in which direction this disagreement was heading and she found herself crossing her fingers behind her back as she said a silent prayer.

During the next four or five minutes, Margaret Walsh’s life fell apart. The sheer force of his hard slap across her face with the fury of a vicious backhand sent Margaret reeling to the ground. He then fisted her in the face and about the forehead as she tried to shield the most vulnerable parts of her body. Before she could get to her feet, Thomas Walsh snatched up all the paper she’d been writing her story on and flung them at her. Margaret saw the sheets of paper float down from above; her precious thoughts and words, which she hoped would one day earn her millions, before feeling a hard kick to her stomach by her husband’s highly-polished shoe.
"Get this stupid idea of earning pots of money out of your head by writing, because it ain't going to happen. I won't allow it!" he screamed at her.
As she lay there on the ground doubled up with a badly bruised face, body and aching ribs, Margaret was fearful that he’d strike out again in anger. Margaret tried to make sense at what was happening to her and in particular, what had she done that was so bad to warrant such a beating? Why had her previously mild-mannered husband who’d never once shouted at her during all the time they'd known each other blown his fuse? How could he behave so brutally towards her for nothing more than writing in his absence?
“Don’t you dare raise your voice to me, you ungrateful wife!” he yelled at her.
"What’s wrong, Thomas? Why are you behaving so?" Margaret asked, but she received no sensible reply.
"Get this stupid idea of earning pots of money out of your head by writing, because it ain't going to happen. I won't allow it!" he screamed at her.
As she lay there on the ground doubled up with a badly bruised face, body and aching ribs, Margaret was fearful that he’d strike out again in anger. Margaret tried to make sense at what was happening to her and in particular, what had she done that was so bad to warrant such a beating? Why had her previously mild-mannered husband who’d never once shouted at her during all the time they'd known each other blown his fuse? How could he behave so brutally towards her for nothing more than writing in his absence?
“Don’t you dare raise your voice to me, you ungrateful wife!” he yelled at her.
"What’s wrong, Thomas? Why are you behaving so?" Margaret asked, but she received no sensible reply.

‘I didn’t marry you and set you up in............in this nice house so that you could ignore all your wifely duties....all your responsibilities as my wife......just so you can sit on your arse all day long and write stupid stories. You’ve a standard to maintain in the community! Don’t you understand, you stupid woman? You are my wife, not an author. You'll never be an author if you want to remain married to me. Understand that!" Thomas replied.
His anger was violent in its explosion. It seemed to be wrapped in a ball of barbed wire, which sought to make his wife the offender and he the victim caught in its vicious entanglement. It was as though such a degree of anger expressed could only be promoted by the deepest of loathing and contempt. It was as though such could only be produced through a sense of bitter disappointment in discovering the manner of woman he’d married. Overall, he spoke to Margaret as a wicked parent might chastise a terrified child in a Dickensian novel. As he yelled abuse at Margaret, she cowered in the corner of the room and shook in fright, fearing that he'd lash out again at her with the kick of his shoe.
“But......what about my degree in Literature? Why did I spend four years getting an ‘Honours’ in Literature if it wasn’t with the possibility of ever writing?” Margaret asked amid her groans of pain.
“You just don’t understand, do you..... you stupid woman? Writing novels isn’t a respectable thing for the wife of a school teacher to do. Why...........why........it’s little better than hitching up your skirt on the stage to earn a living......disclosing your most private of thoughts and parts for strangers to read and titillate their senses over!”
“You never indicated that you felt like this before! Before we married you never once said that you were set against me ever writing?” Margaret said.
“If that’s the case, then it’s because you never specifically asked!” he yelled back at her sarcastically. "Perhaps it's because it's not the done thing for a respectable woman to do, let alone the wife of a teacher!"
His anger was violent in its explosion. It seemed to be wrapped in a ball of barbed wire, which sought to make his wife the offender and he the victim caught in its vicious entanglement. It was as though such a degree of anger expressed could only be promoted by the deepest of loathing and contempt. It was as though such could only be produced through a sense of bitter disappointment in discovering the manner of woman he’d married. Overall, he spoke to Margaret as a wicked parent might chastise a terrified child in a Dickensian novel. As he yelled abuse at Margaret, she cowered in the corner of the room and shook in fright, fearing that he'd lash out again at her with the kick of his shoe.
“But......what about my degree in Literature? Why did I spend four years getting an ‘Honours’ in Literature if it wasn’t with the possibility of ever writing?” Margaret asked amid her groans of pain.
“You just don’t understand, do you..... you stupid woman? Writing novels isn’t a respectable thing for the wife of a school teacher to do. Why...........why........it’s little better than hitching up your skirt on the stage to earn a living......disclosing your most private of thoughts and parts for strangers to read and titillate their senses over!”
“You never indicated that you felt like this before! Before we married you never once said that you were set against me ever writing?” Margaret said.
“If that’s the case, then it’s because you never specifically asked!” he yelled back at her sarcastically. "Perhaps it's because it's not the done thing for a respectable woman to do, let alone the wife of a teacher!"

As he spoke, Margaret could hardly believe what her ears was hearing. It was only when she looked again that her eyes confirmed the sheer gravity of her husband's callousness.
While she still lay prostrate on the kitchen floor in obvious discomfort, he had noticed a scuff and a spattering of blood upon the shoe he’d kicked her with mere moments earlier and he began to buff it up to a high shine once more with a polish rag.
While she still lay prostrate on the kitchen floor in obvious discomfort, he had noticed a scuff and a spattering of blood upon the shoe he’d kicked her with mere moments earlier and he began to buff it up to a high shine once more with a polish rag.

Then he stamped out of the house without once looking back, leaving his wife still sprawled across the floor. Ten minutes later, Thomas Walsh was performing his teaching duties in front of a class of thirty-two children wearing an immaculate white shirt and highly polished shoes. His shoes shone so brightly that had they been worn by a killer, it would have been possible for the murderer to have seen the clearest reflection of his victim in them!
Meanwhile, Margaret tried to bathe her facial wounds and compose herself. Initially, he'd actually got her part-believing that what she'd done had been in the wrong and that the beating and kicking he'd given her had been no more than her just deserts for having been a poor wife. After a while however, she knew she'd not been in the wrong and every last ounce of feeling she'd ever felt for Thomas Walsh rapidly evaporated from her. It would never return.
After that brief episode that lasted no longer than fifteen minutes in total, Margaret Walsh knew that any marriage of love she had once imagined she was entering into was well and truly over. Thomas Walsh had clearly indicated to her during the course of his explosive outburst that both writing as a career and marriage to his good self were wholly irreconcilable.
Margaret now knew that she had no chance of either writing or marriage ever offering her any future happiness. She'd had it beaten into her that both were mutually exclusive, and with divorce being no serious option for a catholic wife in a catholic country such as Ireland in the 1950s, there was nothing left for her to do, but learn to live with her lot.
She knew that she couldn't tell her parents, because though they undoubtedly loved her, they loved God and feared the Catholic Church more! There was simply no way that they'd do anything to sanction or support the separation of a man and wife who'd been joined in marriage before the eyes of God. So, with a heavy heart, Margaret put away all her writing implements and played the role of 'good wife' as she started to prepare the evening meal for her husband when he returned from school later that afternoon.
Meanwhile, Margaret tried to bathe her facial wounds and compose herself. Initially, he'd actually got her part-believing that what she'd done had been in the wrong and that the beating and kicking he'd given her had been no more than her just deserts for having been a poor wife. After a while however, she knew she'd not been in the wrong and every last ounce of feeling she'd ever felt for Thomas Walsh rapidly evaporated from her. It would never return.
After that brief episode that lasted no longer than fifteen minutes in total, Margaret Walsh knew that any marriage of love she had once imagined she was entering into was well and truly over. Thomas Walsh had clearly indicated to her during the course of his explosive outburst that both writing as a career and marriage to his good self were wholly irreconcilable.
Margaret now knew that she had no chance of either writing or marriage ever offering her any future happiness. She'd had it beaten into her that both were mutually exclusive, and with divorce being no serious option for a catholic wife in a catholic country such as Ireland in the 1950s, there was nothing left for her to do, but learn to live with her lot.
She knew that she couldn't tell her parents, because though they undoubtedly loved her, they loved God and feared the Catholic Church more! There was simply no way that they'd do anything to sanction or support the separation of a man and wife who'd been joined in marriage before the eyes of God. So, with a heavy heart, Margaret put away all her writing implements and played the role of 'good wife' as she started to prepare the evening meal for her husband when he returned from school later that afternoon.
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