‘Connie Maguire jolts awake, gasping for air. She scans the bedroom. The wallpaper, mould and a list on the door – rules for this guesthouse on Dublin’s Gardiner Street…’
– The (Wonderful) Life of Connie Maguire
[ About The (Wonderful) Life of Connie Maguire ]
Connie Maguire has always lived in the shadows. Battling low self-esteem, she has spent her life prioritising her only child — and he has flourished, becoming Ireland’s newest rugby star.
On the day of her milestone birthday, with Liam’s career about to soar, Connie finally believes she might achieve some happiness.
Then tragedy strikes in the dark of night, changing everything. On Ireland’s rugged west coast, the past refuses to stay buried, and Connie must finally confront the devastating truth of what happened on the night that destroyed so many lives.
[ My Review ]
The (Wonderful) Life of Connie Maguire by Domhnall O’Donoghue published June 13th with Mercier Press and is described as a ‘powerful exploration of motherhood, guilt and redemption…questions whether we can truly be free from the mistakes of our past.’
Connie Maguire has had to deal with many challenges throughout her life. Approaching her fortieth birthday, she reaches a turning point. Her son Liam, her pride and joy, has achieved great success as a rugby player and has been selected for the Irish squad. Together they have had to struggle through tough times but Connie always made sure that Liam’s rugby came first. She was, and still is, his biggest cheerleader.
After years of hardship, they decide to throw a big party to celebrate Connie’s birthday and Liam’s selection. With excitement at a high, Connie is apprehensive of the night ahead but also so very proud of Liam. Connie has always suffered very low self-esteem, never truly believing in herself. Liam’s father disappeared from their lives way back leaving Connie to manage alone. As Liam got older he became more aware of his mother’s pain and has been her rock in recent times, supporting her and giving her much needed love and a good few pep talks.
The day of the celebrations is central to this story as it is on that night that a tragic event unfolds that changes everything. Connie’s life alters dramatically and, as the story unfolds, we witness her life today with flashbacks to the night her life imploded.
The (Wonderful) Life of Connie Maguire is set across two timelines, then and now. It encapsulates motherhood and the sacrifices mothers make for their children. As a mother myself (and as a huge rugby fan), I had been really looking forward to reading this book but, unfortunately, as I turned the pages, I didn’t feel any connection to the characters. I experienced no emotional attachment to any part of the story, although it is quite an emotive read. There was just something lacking throughout for me.
Connie Maguire devoted her life to Liam, putting everything on hold to help him become more than she could ever be. She made many mistakes in her life and is now paying a huge price. When faced with adversity Connie’s actions are the strong talking point of the novel, which would work well for book clubs, alongside the running themes of addiction and mental health. The (Wonderful) Life of Connie Maguire is a story of guilt, atonement and sacrifice but ultimately it is a story about the strength of a mother’s love.
[ Thank you to Mercier Press for a copy of The (Wonderful) Life of Connie Maguire in exchange for my honest review ]
[ Bio ]
Hailing from Navan, Co. Meath, Domhnall O’Donoghue works as a travel journalist, columnist and author. He writes extensively for the Irish and British media, with work regularly appearing in the Belfast Telegraph, Woman’s Way, The Sunday Times and the Irish Examiner. Domhnall has received many prestigious honours for his writing, including the 2025 Travel Extra Travel Journalist of the Year award.
Mercier Press published his novels Crazy for You and Colin and the Concubine. His début novel, Sister Agatha: the World’s Oldest Serial Killer, was released in 2016.
