The Bodhran Makers

With the liveliness of a stepdance and the simplicity of a Dingle Peninsula landscape, Keane introduces us to the harsh life of the close-knit community of Dirrabeg, a community facing extinction in the mid-1950's. Many of the young have left for England or America, where there are opportunities and chances for secure lives. Those remaining behind love their land and their independence but fear for the future as the bogs get thin, the yields are poor, and the children have little hope of success. For Donal Hallapy, devoted father of a large family, times are very tough. But Donal is a bodhran player, an expert in the ancient drums of his Celtic forebears, a musician in great demand whenever the once-a-year wrendances take place, all-night singing and dancing hooleys which can be traced back to pagan times. This paganism, the secret nature of the celebrations, the drinking that takes place, and the fact that the church has no control over them has made them anathema to "the clan of the round collar," in the person of Canon Tett, an ultraconservative and downright sadistic priest determined to bring the free spirits of Dirrabeg to bay by ending the fun of the wrendances. The prose is straightforward and earthy, the dialogue salty and realistic, and the interactions of the characters so natural that one can share the joys and sorrows, the humor and anger, and the frustrations and all-too-brief personal satisfactions. The natural world, which is exquisitely described, even in its harshness, takes on almost human dimensions, influencing the action directly, while providing a vivid canvas upon which the contest between church and village is played out. The humor is broad, almost slapstick, but tempered by an overarching feeling of melancholy and impending doom. Though some may find the clergy to be caricatures and the message a bit too didactic, Keane provides us a rare glimpse of the last days of a now-vanished world. Mary Whipple

Keane's wonderful storytelling skills draw you into the lives of the characters and not only vividly depict a time now gone, but a spirit which may also regretfully be long gone in Ireland. (No, I take that back, you can still glimpse a bit of that spirit in the "letters" page of the Irish Times!) Keane is tough on the Catholic church and clergy of that era, as well as, the social structures of the town vs. the country people. But it is an honest portrayal and never completely black and white or cartoonish. Although I have seen Keane's play "Sive" I had never read one of his books before and was delighted with this one. I didn't want to put it down and now that it's finished I wish I were still reading it!

This is a poignant account of the activities of a vibrant rural Irish community in the lead up to the annual wrendance. The local manoevering, the after hours drinking, the religion, the sex, it's all there in the best tradition of JB Keane. What differs is the way we see the community gutted by emigration and all the rich lore and traditions lost as the inhabitants are transplanted to sterile urban environments in Britain. Sad, funny, exciting, witty, thoughtful and warm, Keane at his very best.

I happened to pick up one of Keane's essay collections while travelling in Ireland and they were laugh-out loud funny. The Bodhran Makers was even better - this book had everything. A great cast of characters, a fast moving story, love, humor, and the sense of sadness that comes when one finishes a really great book and wishes it could go on forever. I highly recommend this book -- it would be great to read anywhere but if you happen to be heading on vacation to Ireland, ORDER IT TODAY!

I was lucky enough to be able to read this book in large chunks of uninterrupted time, which was fortunate because upon stepping into this world I found it difficult to stay away for long. The contrasts between pagan and catholic,town and country, tradition and progress were highlighted by vivid language and colorful characters. As the wrendance was being planned, I could feel the excitement of this one time a year when the country folks could forget their poverty, their adherance to a strict moral code, and just enjoy the music, dance, and the company of good friends. The bodhran served as a reminder of who they were, their past, traditions, and culture, its drumbeat serving as a heartbeat to keep these things alive. I've travelled through Ireland twice in recent years and have seen and heard the culture preserved in music and customs that are often pagan, but veiled by the catholic church. The Bodhran Makers welcomes the reader in with a glimpse at the past through the eyes of characters I won't soon forget. It's at once funny but poignant in its portrayal of class struggle and divided loyalties.