A Real Legend

Victoria McNulty skilfully weaves together the history of an Irish family living in Glasgow. The story explores the experiences of immigrants finding their way in a new land and of their children looking back to the old country which they’ve never known.

Legends ur only hauf true. Ma Daddy wis so handsome. Smilin blue eyes, blond hair and a razor jaw. He worked hard. Labourin stuff. Liftin and cartin mainly. He awways hud durt undur his nails and muck oan his neck. Aw the wummen in oor close loved him. He drove a motor bike wae a side car and thought he wis a ticket. Ma Daddy wis a bully. He chased me roon the kitchen table, a fell and knocked oot ma two front teeth. Wance he shiriked ma wee brar so much he’d wet the bed wae aw ae us in it. He carried somehin horrible, ma Daddy. Bit oan his gid nights we’d sit roon the table playin cairds. He’d cheat, obviously. And tell us aboot the watur lappin oan white sand where he wis fae. The horses, the dugs. Aw, ma Daddy loved dugs! Ye see, legends dinnae need tae be perfect, we jist remember the gid bits.