The Troubles was a terrible time in Northern Ireland when the IRA, mainly Catholic, used violence to end British rule. In the garrison town of Ulster, a civil rights movement protecting the rights of the Catholic minority led to further violence between the IRA and the Ulster Defence Force on the Protestant side, for nearly 30 years. Through the lives of ordinary families in Ulster, Kennedy exposes the scarring the conflict caused, increasing our compassion for those caught up in it.

Cushla teaches seven-year-olds in a Catholic school. The children are indoctrinated in hatred and revenge by the school priest. One teacher tries to counteract this by singing a song of love and forgiveness. They have to start their lessons with Morning News so their vocabulary is full of violence – street fighting, bombings meant for British soldiers killing two boys, sniper attacks, check points and booby traps.

Davy, a young boy in Cushla’s class, personifies the fear but also the possible redemption. His parents are still Protestant so the priest treats Davy unjustly. When his dad is bashed Cushla helps the family, attracting suspicion of her loyalty to the Catholics.

Cushla also works part time in her mother’s bar keeping the place afloat for the locals. Here she meets Michael, a middle-aged barrister who shields her. Cushla becomes attracted to Michael and they become lovers despite the fact he is married and a Protestant. These ‘trespasses’ put them in great danger.

Kennedy’s racy easy-to-read style kept me glued to the plot. She frankly reveals the violence and the unjust reactions of ordinary people towards their neighbours, and her description of landscape in Trespasses and use of the Irish language has enriched my appreciation of the history of this country.

Reviewed by Judith Grace

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Louise Kennedy grew up a few miles from Belfast. She is the author of the Women’s Prize Longlisted novel, Trespasses, and the acclaimed short story collection, The End of the World is a Cul de Sac, and is the only woman to have been shortlisted twice for the Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award (2019 and 2020). Before starting her writing career, she spent nearly thirty years working as a chef. She lives in Sligo.