THAT'S THAT

About the Book

That’s That is a multi-generational family saga, telling the story of Charlie and Louise Frowney and the generations from which they sprang. The story follows several generations of two families set against a backdrop of the famine, Ireland’s truggle for independence, the divisive treaty with England, the ensuing civil war, the provisional IRA, the Royal Irish Constabulary, and the formation of the Irish Free State.

Through the generations, these families are faced with desperate choices, and sometimes the decisions they make bring unforeseen results. The early 1920’s was a time when Ireland was roiling with political strife, and two brothers from an IRA family, forced by the hand of poverty, decide to go against everything their family stands for, and join the Royal Irish Constabulary, bringing terrible consequences. One of the brothers courts a young girl, whose family is on the opposite side of the political divide. Th e results of this relationship are profound, far-reaching, and cause wounds that run deep.

A generation later, history repeats itself in a love aff air between a man from an IRA family, and the daughter of a retired Royal Irish Constabulary member. Neither side has learned anything from the past, and each still believes that some things are unforgivable. Although the couple’s determination to rise above the old hatreds is stronger than the opposition from their families, their drastic action makes things worse. The consequences of thoughtless choices and family prejudices eventually put stress on the marriage, resulting in remorse and isolation, and the fl ying apart of the family with one desperate act.

That’s That tells the compelling story of an orphan determined to make his way, laying the ground for three subsequent generations to prosper, but will deep-seated hatreds and prejudices destroy everything he set in motion and hoped for for his descendants?

About the Author

Gaye Walsh was born and raised on a farm in Doneraile, Co. Cork, Ireland. She emigrated to America during the great exodus of the late 1980s, but returns regularly to her home and hearth. Her intimate knowledge of Ireland and, particularly, rural Irish life in the last century, has put her in a unique position to breathe life into each of her characters. Gaye lives in Seattle and is currently working on a poetry collection. This is her first novel.