I had to make sense out of my upbringing in Ireland, to understand why I was a wounded person for so long. The book was cathartic, but she is still angry. I am angry at the Irish State that promoted the civil service class at the expense of the dispossessed working-class. I am angry at the church, who deprived us of learning and opportunity, then burdened us with borrowing from money-lenders for First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Visiting Dublin now is a strange experience.
Nobody holds their nose at a smelly, raggedy girl any more.
I can go into Clerys, you were never allowed in. Everyone is very swanky and talking as if they had elocution lessons. I don't see any poor people. I had nothing to live for here. She wanted us to have a taste of the best.