Mickey Slabdabber, a Limerick OdysseyPaperback, 27 December 2005

Set in the period 1935-1953, Mickey Slabdabber is another amazing slice of Irish life adding balance to the Limerick of "Angela's Ashes". Michael Quinlan's hometown is not as bleak as Frank McCourt's, although there is still hardship aplenty. Linguistic flair & Celtic originality, intriguing anecdotes and the drama of an unseen IRA distorting the life of a growing child all help flesh out our understanding of the Ireland of the day. Yet there is also art & enchantment, music, theatre & humour in this true story of the childhood and youth of a Vize's Field lane boy who wants to be a painter.