Set in the fictional world of Rookery Rally in northern Tipperary, A Bunch of Wild Roses is an unshamed homage to a past rural community living an often poor and yet contented life. The story opens with Dandy-the-Galwayman's arrival in the foothills of north Tipperary after the famine. The generation that follows him lead a colourful life, weaving a rich tapestry in a community far different from the modern day.
Readers witness a host of tales written in the colloquial and colourful language of the times. These include the death of a young hurler in his very first match; the ghostly sightings of a tragically expired father, whose spirit continues to haunt and inspire his son throughout the rest of his life; the central tale of love and devotion which inspired the book's title; and the final escape from cruelty and enslavement in a tearful journey over the sea.
Unveiling a side of Ireland still largely unaccounted for, A Bunch of Wild Roses captures an age that remained unchanged for several centuries, and conveys the living breath of men, women, children (even beasts) as reflected in the daily lives of the Spallidagh household – the Tipperary descendants of Dandy-the-Galwayman.