This was surprisingly good. I was lead to request it from NetGalley because I love the song of the same name sung by Clannad (among many others).

The writing is pretty tight and characterization good. The Irish language is roughly indicated but it's done in a way that gets tangled when you read it. I'd rather just read proper English and hear it in my head but to each their own. It did get a little heavy with the social issues emphasis, but reading the author's bio I can now see why. It was another good 'vacation read'.

Beginning in the period immediately preceding the Easter Rising in 1916, this is the story of Grainne and Cady, close friends who realise that their feelings are becoming something more. Ireland in that time was not accepting of such a relationship, and unwilling to face their feelings, they both become engaged to young men, Grainne to Cady's brother. One day their feelings overcome their hesitation, but unfortunately their stolen kiss is witnessed by a local busybody and quickly becomes scandal. Forced to leave home , Grainne ends up in Dublin and becomes part of the Rising, while Cady is shipped off to an aunt in Boston, where she becomes involved in the sufferage movement.
This is a good book, with well written and well rounded characters, and the setting, in a period of immense change for both Ireland and the US makes for an interesting background with plenty of scope to tell a good story. My biggest negative criticism is something that is liberally used throughout the book, and really interrupted the flow of the read for me- the author repeatedly uses "ya" insead of you in passages with dialogue, and while I understand the intent it seemed out of place in many instances, and threw off the speech patterns as I read. I liked how well the characters, particularly Grainne grew and matured as the book went on.