Publisher's Synopsis
The story behind the song. Maggie O'Reilly was no ordinary girl and these were no ordinary times. 19th century Ireland was wracked with poverty and the Great Famine which wiped out an eighth of the population, was fast approaching. Born the 4th out of 6 children to Kathleen & Joseph O'Reilly, Maggie was a ray of sunshine. Bright auburn hair and brilliant blue eyes sat atop a feisty twelve year old who spent her days telling stories to anyone who would listen. Disaster struck the impoverished family, as it did most of their village and Maggie found herself orphaned and sent to live in the workhouse with her 14 year old surviving sister, Lily. Soon afterwards, Lily being of marital age, was taken by the authorities to be transported to Van Diemen's Land, under Earl Grey's Orphan Scheme - the aim being to help populate the land now known as Tasmania, which had an excess of male residents. Maggie was left to face life alone, working in the mansion belonging to the Master of the workhouse. The devastated Maggie falls in love with the houseboy Paddy Flynn but their love is shortlived as he is falsely accused of theft and deported, leaving Maggie alone and with child, determined to reunite her family no matter what the cost.
