Author Talk Series: Jack Cashman: An Irish Immigrant Story at Boston Public Library

Johanna Cashman and Jack McCarthy, along with over a million others, immigrated to America to escape a devastating famine. They left behind family members who faced starvation to come to a land that would give them an opportunity for a good life. They were soon made aware that they were not welcome in this new land and that every day would present a new struggle for survival. In spite of all the obstacles they encountered, including Jacks untimely death, their family grew and found success. This historical novel brings the reader through the heartwarming story of a family that overcomes adversity to thrive in America. At the same time, it details the movement in the country they left to find its own independent place in the world.

Jack Cashman is retired from a long career in business and public service in Maine. He is a long time student of Irish history, and both his father’s and mother’s ancestors emigrated from Ireland to escape the famine and settled in Salem, Massachusetts. So jack wrote his first novel about the struggles of an Irish immigrant family and Ireland’s drive for independence. Jack lives in Hampden, Maine, with his wife Betty, close to his two sons and five granddaughters.