Amongst Women

Michael tries to convince Luke to visit their father in Ireland, but while Michael retains some affection and respect for Moran, Luke has none. Maggie has her first child. Sheila gets married, and Luke finally returns to Ireland for the wedding in Dublin. He and Moran reunite, but they are distanced and coldly polite with one another.

Luke returns to England, and Moran’s other children join him at their childhood home. Everyone pitches in to help Moran row the hay, which is backbreaking work. Sheila’s new husband, Sean, struggles with the labor, and the rest of the family struggles with Sheila and Sean’s obvious intimacy. Moran and Rose are happy to have the house full again.

As the years go on, Sheila and Maggie have children. Sheila is careful not to let her children spend too much time with Moran because she’s worried he’ll destroy their confidence as he once did hers. Michael marries an Englishwoman, whom his sisters don’t like because Moran is so willing to accept her into the family as a new daughter. Mona is the only daughter who doesn’t marry.