Saighdiúir

This story starts in 1914 and focuses on the young man Maitiú Mac Suibhne from Gaeltacht Chloich Chionnaola in Donegal. He works as a gardener in the local “big house” and himself and his friend Domhnall Ó Gallchóir enlist to fight with the British Army in the Great War. The two are full of the hope, bravery and confidence of youth and hope that being in the army will give them a chance to see some of the world.

But faraway hills are green, and it isn’t long before Maitiú and Domhnall are struggling with the hardships of army life in the trenches of France. The stark realities of war are described in great detail from gas attacks, killing and violence, disease and trenchfoot, hunger and discomfort (there is a grim and graphic description of lice that won’t leave readers for some time). The two are low not only physically but spiritually as they become increasingly cynical and incredulous on the merits and reasons of war and dream of returning to the safety of home.

A highlight of this book is the descriptions of the different characters. From the many characters who are very likeable, to the few who are despicable, they are all drawn in a realistic and detailed way as readers are given a full picture of each of them. Even the general description of the men who have enlisted alongside Maitiú is done artistically and engagingly:

“Éarcaíodh meascán mór fear; fir spáide, fir sráide, fir oifige, fir a throidfeadh lena scáile féin agus fir nach ndéarfadh bú ná hú le haon duine; fir óil agus ceoil a bhí lán de chroí.”

Sub characters such as Driscoll and William Craig really add to the story and there is brilliant humour and comradery between characters that provides relief from the darkness of war. The characters’ way of speaking is written in whatever language or dialect they would have spoken in, be it Gaeilge, English, French, an Ulster or Scots dialect. This is done effectively and adds to the authenticity and reliability of the story. At times it often provides comic relief, particularly with the old English of the senior commanders. Moments of light are also provided through the central theme of the importance of friendship and brotherhood during hard times.

We can see the influence of poetry on the author as the style of writing has a musical, poetic, artistic quality and flair to it. The descriptions of nature and the landscape in France as the author describes the farms, woods, sheds and houses are beautifully drawn:

“Bhí duilliúr úrghlas an tsamhraidh ag maisiú na gcrann agus na sceach.”

There are many references made to political issues at the time both in Europe and in Ireland; between the Easter Rising, class divides and tensions between English landlords and gentry and Irish civilians, and anti-war sentiment spreading in Europe. This book is certainly an anti-war book as Maitiú questions the killing and slaughter, self-reflecting on belief, life and death. But between the darkness and hardship there is solace and relief with the stunning nature, love between characters, friendship and humour, and the ultimate hope that things will get better. An absolute page-turner of a book.