Here’s the Story: A Memoir
- Downloads：2511
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-05-26 00:51:11
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Mary McAleese
- ISBN：0241986206
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
The groundbreaking two-term President of Ireland tells the stories of her life
When a young Mary McAleese told a priest that she planned to become a lawyer， the priest dismissed the idea: she knew no one in the law， and she was female。 The reality of what she went on to achieve - despite those obstacles， and despite a sectarian attack that forced her family to flee their home - is even more improbable。
In this luminous memoir， Mary McAleese traces that astonishing arc: from the tight streets of north Belfast， to a professorship in Dublin while still in her twenties， behind-the-scenes work on the peace process， and two triumphant terms as President of Ireland。 She writes of her encounters with prime ministers， popes and royalty with the same easy candour and intimacy with which she describes her childhood。 And her account of the latest act in her remarkable career - quietly pursuing a doctorate， and loudly opposing the misogyny of the Catholic Church - is inspiring。
Here's the Story is warm， witty， often surprising and relentlessly fascinating: an extraordinarily intimate memoir by one of the most remarkable public figures of our time。
_______________
'A fascinating story and well worth the read' Irish Times
'Riveting 。。。 A fiercely urgent reminder to the world - and the Government - that peace must never be sacrificed for politics' Telegraph
'Excellent' Matt Cooper， Irish Daily Mail
'I was enthralled and absorbed by this memoir' Sunday Independent
'What an incredible life lived by an outstanding role model。 I ate this book up' Sinéad Moriarty
'Full of conviction and isn't afraid of plain speaking 。。。 Priests， popes， paramilitaries and Ian Paisley are all held to account' Herald Scotland
'[A] chatty， provocative and embraceable biography' RTÉ Guide
When a young Mary McAleese told a priest that she planned to become a lawyer， the priest dismissed the idea: she knew no one in the law， and she was female。 The reality of what she went on to achieve - despite those obstacles， and despite a sectarian attack that forced her family to flee their home - is even more improbable。
In this luminous memoir， Mary McAleese traces that astonishing arc: from the tight streets of north Belfast， to a professorship in Dublin while still in her twenties， behind-the-scenes work on the peace process， and two triumphant terms as President of Ireland。 She writes of her encounters with prime ministers， popes and royalty with the same easy candour and intimacy with which she describes her childhood。 And her account of the latest act in her remarkable career - quietly pursuing a doctorate， and loudly opposing the misogyny of the Catholic Church - is inspiring。
Here's the Story is warm， witty， often surprising and relentlessly fascinating: an extraordinarily intimate memoir by one of the most remarkable public figures of our time。
_______________
'A fascinating story and well worth the read' Irish Times
'Riveting 。。。 A fiercely urgent reminder to the world - and the Government - that peace must never be sacrificed for politics' Telegraph
'Excellent' Matt Cooper， Irish Daily Mail
'I was enthralled and absorbed by this memoir' Sunday Independent
'What an incredible life lived by an outstanding role model。 I ate this book up' Sinéad Moriarty
'Full of conviction and isn't afraid of plain speaking 。。。 Priests， popes， paramilitaries and Ian Paisley are all held to account' Herald Scotland
'[A] chatty， provocative and embraceable biography' RTÉ Guide
Reviews
Miss Ciara
，
Probably made me realise our collective trauma during the troubles。 I found parts of this book very upsetting。 It’s no doubt that she did and continues to do amazing things but I guess I didn’t find her particularly likeable in her writing style！！！ Which is crazy because she has done so much。
Beryl Anderson
，
Fascinating journeyThis was so easy to read， so interesting， and I’d recommend this to all girls and women。 Mary McAleese journey is inspirational
Bob Zeis
，
She is an amazing person and her accounts of the Troubles and Catholic Church are incredible。
ivan middleton
，
I was captivated by her description of her early family life in Northern Ireland， the land of by birth too。 Mine was a different upbringing "on the other side" as it were。 Her honesty and integrity shone through all stages of her life。 Her compassion and passion to achieve peace and understanding throughout the island of Ireland was inspirational。Although I am a Humanist her writing about her religion laced with her own integrity left me admiring her loyalty。 I was also heartened by her ability I was captivated by her description of her early family life in Northern Ireland， the land of by birth too。 Mine was a different upbringing "on the other side" as it were。 Her honesty and integrity shone through all stages of her life。 Her compassion and passion to achieve peace and understanding throughout the island of Ireland was inspirational。Although I am a Humanist her writing about her religion laced with her own integrity left me admiring her loyalty。 I was also heartened by her ability to recognise weakness and wrong headedness in some of its its leaders and her courage in calling them out。Her determination and perseverance to build bridges was described in such a modest way whilst her efforts and those of her husband were truly ground breaking。Her self deprecation and modesty were highlighted for me in a throwaway remark she made。 I was already in awe of her achievements and accomplishments when she just happened to mention something about 'when I was learning to fly'。 Where did she find the time and energy to make such a positive difference to so many lives？ 。。。more
Mary Crawford
，
A very detailed account of Mary McAleese's life。 From her humble beginnings to her elevation as President of Ireland。 A smart， but feisty woman， she stood by her principles for a fair go for all people。 This tenacity was required for the bridge making to create a ceasefire for Northern Ireland。 Her husband Martin was no slouch and was a terrific negotiator for peace。 As she travels through Ireland and across to Rome， we get her opinion on various political and clerical personalities。 Mary was no A very detailed account of Mary McAleese's life。 From her humble beginnings to her elevation as President of Ireland。 A smart， but feisty woman， she stood by her principles for a fair go for all people。 This tenacity was required for the bridge making to create a ceasefire for Northern Ireland。 Her husband Martin was no slouch and was a terrific negotiator for peace。 As she travels through Ireland and across to Rome， we get her opinion on various political and clerical personalities。 Mary was not impressed with the misogyny of Catholic hierachy both in Ireland and Rome as she did further studies。 Fascinating read punctured by a dry wit and very challenging at times about the horrors of 'The Troubles'。 It may be a bit too 'heavy' for some readers。 。。。more
Ellen Murphy
，
I didn't realise when I started this book how much of impact it would have。 Much of its first 10 chapters is spent detailing in close， personal terms， the impact of growing up and living in the throws of the Troubles was like for President McAleese and her family。 The chapters about her childhood are full of warm stories of family friends and people who moulded her world view and are punctuated by harrowing insights into the daily loss of life endured day after day。 She writes about some of the I didn't realise when I started this book how much of impact it would have。 Much of its first 10 chapters is spent detailing in close， personal terms， the impact of growing up and living in the throws of the Troubles was like for President McAleese and her family。 The chapters about her childhood are full of warm stories of family friends and people who moulded her world view and are punctuated by harrowing insights into the daily loss of life endured day after day。 She writes about some of the most brutal and some of the most important moments in recent Irish history so gently， and anecdotally， you would easlity fly through 200 pages in one day （which I did） and not notice the time go by。 The chapters about her time as the 8th President of Ireland provide so much detail about the inner workings of the role， and the mammoth effort by her and her husband to help deliver peace in Northern Ireland form the seat of constitutional power in the South。 It was a joyous read about a truly unique， and important， Irish life。 I have recommended it to almost everyone I know since reading it。 。。。more
Louise Ní Conchearca
，
A fascinating and moving account of growing up in Northern Ireland during the troubles， which really provides a lot of insight to what shaped her life and career， including her 14 years as president。 Really impressive overall and her humour， wit and passion really shine through。
Margaret
，
Took me longer than usual to finish a book， but this one couldn’t be read quickly， there is so much to take in。 The account of the daily lived experience of The Troubles is harrowing and is told with the condemnation the perpetrators on all sides deserve。 Mary McAleese’s devotion to family and friends shines through， as does her courage in tackling head-on the prejudices of church and state。 The progress made by Mary M and many others， through dogged determination to get old enemies talking， hel Took me longer than usual to finish a book， but this one couldn’t be read quickly， there is so much to take in。 The account of the daily lived experience of The Troubles is harrowing and is told with the condemnation the perpetrators on all sides deserve。 Mary McAleese’s devotion to family and friends shines through， as does her courage in tackling head-on the prejudices of church and state。 The progress made by Mary M and many others， through dogged determination to get old enemies talking， helped bring about the Good Friday Agreement， along with the genuine participation of politicians such as John Major， Tony Blair， Bill Clinton and Mo Mowlam， to name but a few。 Heaven forbid that this Agreement should ever be threatened。 。。。more
Yvonne Murphy
，
I started this book with the only knowledge about Mary was that she was the President of Ireland for 14 years。I presumed she was from the republic so when I picked up this book， I was amazed to find out that she is from the North and experienced the Troubles first hand。 It is truly astonishing the amount she has achieved for peace on the island of Ireland。 Recommend it to anybody who wishes to know more about the troubles， how the peace process was started and stories involving the Catholic chur I started this book with the only knowledge about Mary was that she was the President of Ireland for 14 years。I presumed she was from the republic so when I picked up this book， I was amazed to find out that she is from the North and experienced the Troubles first hand。 It is truly astonishing the amount she has achieved for peace on the island of Ireland。 Recommend it to anybody who wishes to know more about the troubles， how the peace process was started and stories involving the Catholic church （or if you want to know more about her life， obviously 😁）。 Be warned， very descriptive writing so can be quite difficult to read at times。 If your looking for an easy or quick read， this isn't the book for you。 。。。more
Mary Dolan
，
Thisemoir gave me a new found admiration for a lady who did so much for church and country and her recollections of a Northern Irish childhood make me proud to remember where I also came from。
Orlaith
，
A real insight into growing up during the Troubles。 She really had it tough - her deaf brother tortured and the perpetrator never convicted， close friends killed on her wedding day。 Very attached to her Roscommon roots。 Some anecdotes interesting but it could have done with a good editor。 Too folksy in parts。
Sandra Crean
，
What an amazing story to tell！ I did find parts of the book slow for some reason。 That could have been down to the fact that there was so much to absorb， it often made you stop and think。
Daryl Feehely
，
This is an interesting and eye-opening read， from the first hand account of growing up during the troubles in Belfast to the monumentous work done by Mary & Martin during the peace process。 An inspiring example of how imagination， vision and hard work can bring about previously thought impossible outcomes。 Also full of empowering examples of speaking truth to power。
Jackie Holly
，
An amazing woman Mary MacAleese is an exceptional woman！ I thoroughly enjoyed her wonderful autobiography and was left awestruck at her lifelong commitment to building bridges between the two communities in Northern Ireland。 I equally admired how she continually upbraided the Catholic hierarchy for their lack of humanity in woman’s rights， child abuse and recognition of LGBT rights despite her dedication to her faith。 What an amazing woman！！！
Gerard P Corr
，
Born off the Falls Rd with first hand experiences on poverty， discrimination， violence， abuse。。。。。。。I could not put this down; hopefully there is more to come sooner rather than later。 Love the passion behind the beliefs。Has challenged me to rethink some of my own beliefs on several topics。
Aishling Murphy
，