Maria Foley, who lives in Moville in Northern Donegal, thinks she's the luckiest young woman in the world. The Second World War means her father has been offered work in the Derry boat yard, which had been commandeered by the Navy. His generous wage will enable Maria to attend the prestigious Grafton Academy in Dublin. Not many girls manage to leave their small village, and Maria's won a scholarship through her own special talent at dress design. She can't wait. The dream falls apart when Sam Foley misses his footing down at the docks and is paralysed for life. Crazed with grief and guilt, his wife is no help and so it falls to Maria to look after them. Grimly she gets a job sewing uniforms, rather than study fabric design. When her true love marries another, she doesn't blame him, although it hurts; who'd take her on now? So when her father's former colleague Barney begins to take an interest, she feels grateful. Barney has his own reasons for finding a respectable girl: he needs a cover, for his so-called 'delivery job' turns out to be smuggling. Finally he is discovered and must flee, to Maria's uncle in Birmingham, who sets Barney up with a prime job at Dunlops. All too soon Barney's old habits re-emerge and he's sacked, while causing family havoc. It's the children who suffer, and one little girl in particular defends herself in the only way she knows -- with tragic consequences. Once again Maria must hold everything together, and she turns to what she knows best: dressmaking. It's the best decision she could have made -- for it draws someone very special back into her life!

‘A powerful, heart-wrenching saga from the much-loved author of “Daughter of Mine” and “Danny Boy” . This [“Mother’s Only Child”] is a page-turning saga of love, loss and family ties’ Woman’s Weekly