Many stories are told of 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland. The bombing, rioting, raids, curfews and killings have had hours of air time and paper, most from the point of view of the paramilitaries, security forces or politicians. Seldom do we hear how women coped or what their place in the history of Northern Ireland was. This book is based on five fictitious Nationalist women and their lives during this time. The characters may be fictitious but the background events were very real, to none more so than the women of West Belfast. The women were subjected to cruel, heart breaking experiences and life changing traumas on a daily basis. Others had loved ones interned, jailed, tortured or murdered. This is the story of their lives during this time, a story seldom given the importance it deserves. TESS: pretty, petite, quiet, with little interest in what happened outside her front door, until her husband was interned. Then the worm turned. HELEN: strong, beautiful, best friend to Tess; they shared the long journey together and supported each other through thick and thin. MARY: tough, loving mother of six, worn down by trauma, she fought tooth and nail to keep her family safe. LUCY: mother and wife, with hidden talents she would never have discovered had she not been left to fend for herself and her children. MARGARET: nothing she did was enough, until she found the courage to make life changing decisions for herself and her children.

Many stories are told of 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland. The bombing, rioting, raids, curfews and killings have had hours of air time and paper, most from the point of view of the paramilitaries, security forces or politicians. Seldom do we hear how women coped or what their place in the history of Northern Ireland was. This book is based on five fictitious Nationalist women and their lives during this time. The characters may be fictitious but the background events were very real, to none more so than the women of West Belfast. The women were subjected to cruel, heart breaking experiences and life changing traumas on a daily basis. Others had loved ones interned, jailed, tortured or murdered. This is the story of their lives during this time, a story seldom given the importance it deserves. TESS: pretty, petite, quiet, with little interest in what happened outside her front door, until her husband was interned. Then the worm turned. HELEN: strong, beautiful, best friend to Tess; they shared the long journey together and supported each other through thick and thin. MARY: tough, loving mother of six, worn down by trauma, she fought tooth and nail to keep her family safe. LUCY: mother and wife, with hidden talents she would never have discovered had she not been left to fend for herself and her children. MARGARET: nothing she did was enough, until she found the courage to make life changing decisions for herself and her children.